CD1 RECOGNITION BY MOUSE NK1(+) T-LYMPHOCYTES

Rare major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-like CD1-specific T cells have been isolated from human blood, but it has not been deter mined whether these clones are part of a defined subset of CD1-specifi c T cells selected during T cell development, or whether their recogni tion of CD1 is a fortuitous cross-reaction. In mice, an entire subset of alpha beta thymocytes with a unique phenotype was found to be CD1-s pecific. This particular subset, and its human counterpart, provide ev idence that CD1 has a general role in selecting and interacting with s pecialized alpha beta T cells.