Cyclosporin A inhibits activation-induced cell death in T-cell hybridomas and thymocytes
Abstract
ONE mechanism by which the immune system develops the ability to discriminate self from nonself is the deletion of autoreactive T-cell clones during thymic maturation1-4. The drug cyclosporin A (CsA) has been shown to interfere with this process, allowing the escape of normally 'forbidden' T-cell clones5,6 and the appearance of autoimmune disease7-10. Recently, it has been demonstrated that immature thymocytes undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis) upon activation via the T-cell receptor11. A similar phenomenon of activation-induced cell death (AICD) has been observed in T-cell hybridomas12,13. Here we show that AICD in T-cell hybridomas in vitro and in thymocytes in vivo is blocked by CsA. Thus, clonal deletion may involve AICD when self-reactive, immature T cells are induced by self antigen, and CsA may cause autoimmunity by interfering with this process.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- June 1989
- DOI:
- 10.1038/339625a0
- Bibcode:
- 1989Natur.339..625S