Abstract
Receptors encoded by the V.beta.8 gene family detected by the monoclonal antibody F23.1 are expressed among ''naturally'' activated T cells in normal spleen at frequencies significantly higher than in the total CD4+ and CD8+ cell populations. The positive selection of these clones into ''natural'' T-cell activity could be the reason for the high frequencies of cells expressing V.beta.8 genes. This phenotype is strain-dependent.
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