Increased number of CD4-CD8+ MHC class II-specific T cells in MHC class II-deficient mice

Targeted disruption of the A beta-encoding gene of H2b mice abolishes major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression and results in a failure to develop CD4+8- T cells. Besides this major effect, the lack of class II expression affects the level of T-cell receptor (TCR) and CD4 expression on differentiating thymocytes. Moreover, there is no class II-mediated negative selection of thymocytes. All this could result in TCR repertoire changes of the CD4-8+ T-cell subpopulation, which apparently develops normally in these mice. To test this hypothesis, the class II reactivity of CD4-8+ T cells from class II-deficient (class II0) mice was analysed. It was found that CD4-8+ T cells from class II0 but not from class II-expressing mice developed a significant level of cytotoxicity against class II-expressing target cells. These results demonstrate an influence of MHC class II molecules on the TCR repertoire of CD4-8+ T cells.