Positive and negative selection of Tcrb-V6+ T cells

Tcrb-V6+ T cells are deleted by an endogenous superantigen probably encoded by a mouse mammary tumor provirus (Mtv), Mtv-7, in association with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. In contrast, Tcrb-V6+CD4+ T cells are positively selected by MHC class II E molecules in Mtv-7- mice. We have examined the levels of Tcrb-V6+CD4+ and Tcrb-V6+CD8+ T cells from six combinations of backcross mice. In this paper we show that: 1) Tcrb-V6+CD8+ T cells can be positively selected by MHC class I molecules; 2) MHC class II A molecules can also influence the levels of Tcrb-V6+CD4+ T cells; 3) Mtv-7- NZW mice have a new Mtv, Mtv-44, which cosegregates with a gene encoding the partial deletion ligand for Tcrb-V6+ T cells; 4) the remaining Tcrb-V6+ T cells from mice with partial deletion of these T cells appear not to be anergized in the periphery.