The TNF receptor family member CD30 is not essential for negative selection

CD30 is a member of the TNF receptor superfamily that has been implicated i n negative selection and some forms of peripheral tolerance. A previous stu dy of CD30(-/-) mice in a class I-restricted H-Y TCR-transgenic mouse model showed that CD30 is essential for removal of autoreactive thymocytes, Duri ng the course of the studies of CD30 in the class II-restricted TCR-transge nic mice, we found that the absence of CD30 has no effect on negative selec tion. Surprisingly, we also found that the CD30 mutation does not perturb a poptosis of the autoreactive thymocytes in the class I-restricted H-Y TCR-t ransgenic model. The minimal role of CD30 in negative selection and other r ecent data are discussed.