Anti-self receptors

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Abstract
Rosetting between thymocytes and autologous erythrocytes is mediated by receptors on thymocytes that primarily recognize self H-2L molecules on erythrocytes. This paper describes preliminary attempts to chemically characterize the receptor and acceptor molecules involved in thisH-2-restricted interaction. On the basis of sugar inhibition studies and the sensitivity of the receptors and acceptors to protease and glycosidase treatments it appears that a protein receptor on thymocytes recognizes the carbohydrate portion of a glycoprotein on erythrocytes. Furthermore, the thymocyte receptor appears to recognize terminal D-galactose, D-mannose and sialic acid residues on a branched-chain carbohydrate structure on erythrocytes, with mouse strains of differentH-2 haplotype expressing carbohydrate structures that differ in the linkage of these three terminal sugars. These findings indicate thatH-2-restricted carbohydrate-protein interactions can occur between cells, a conclusion with important theoretical implications.