Zijlstra M, Bix M, Simister NE, Loring JM, Raulet DH, Jaenisch R:
Beta 2-microglobulin deficient mice lack CD4-8+ cytolytic T cells.
Nature 1990 Apr 19;344(6268):742-6

Mice homozygous for a beta 2-microglobulin gene disruption do not express any detectable beta 2-m protein. They express little if any functional major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen on the cell surface yet are fertile and apparently healthy. They show a normal distribution of gamma delta, CD4+8+ and CD4+8- T cells, but have no mature CD4-8+ T cells and are defective in CD4-8+ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Our results strongly support earlier evidence that MHC class I molecules are crucial for positive selection of T cell antigen receptor alpha beta+ CD4-8+ T cells in the thymus and call into question the non-immune functions that have been ascribed to MHC class I molecules.

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