Benny,
With regard to point #2: So you are saying that maybe TGFbeta normally
inhibits ag processing or at least alters it so a minimum of self peptides
are presented? Not a bad idea. Without TGF beta, a whole host of new peptides
would be presented to which the lymphocytes were not previously tolerized to.
This could operate indirectly through IFN-gamma. Since we know TGF-beta
down-regulates many actions of IFN-gamma, there might be much more IFN-gamma
in these mice. This could indeed cause an increase in all of the ag processing
machinery-including MHC class I, II, TAP genes, co-stimulators, Ii chain.
Jerry Woodward
