T cell unresponsiveness correlates with quantitative TCR levels in a transgenic model

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Abstract
Two lines of transgenic mice were developed which differ in their level of expression of Vβ11. To determine the role of TCR density in tolerance induction, these mice were bred with I-E expressing mice and were investigated for tolerance induction. T cells expressing Vβ11 at high density are deleted by negative selection. T cells expressing in vitro. There is a correlation in receptor density in both strains of mice with in vitro activation. These findings support the notion that there is a definable quantitative signal threshold which is critical for tolerance induction.