Fetal liver T cell receptor gamma/delta+ T cells as cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for maternal alloantigens.
We have established fetal liver-derived T cell receptor (TCR) gamma/delta+, CD3+ T cell lines that are cytotoxic for maternal T cells. Fetal liver-derived lymphoid progenitors yielded predominantly TCR-gamma/delta+ cell clusters when cultured on fetal bone marrow-derived stromal cells in the presence of a cytokine cocktail under magnetic force. These tightly adherent clusters were cloned by limiting dilution and the resulting cell lines analyzed for phenotype and function. Six of eight TCR-gamma/delta lines from 8-9.5-wk gestation fetuses were V delta 2+ as compared with zero of eight lines from later stages of gestation (10 and 15 wk), where all the lines were V delta 1+. In cytotoxicity assays, these TCR-gamma/delta+, CD3+, CD4-, and CD8+ or CD8- long-term cultured lymphoid cells (LLC) were killer cells active against the class I antigens on maternal T cells. Of the cell lines, the CD8+ TCR-gamma/delta+ LLC had the highest levels of killer activity. Thus fetal liver TCR-gamma/delta+ T cells may play a crucial role in protection against invading maternal T cells generated in the feto-maternal interaction.
Miyagawa
Y
Y
Department of Pediatrics, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
Matsuoka
T
T
Baba
A
A
Nakamura
T
T
Tsuno
T
T
Tamura
A
A
Agematsu
K
K
Yabuhara
A
A
Uehara
Y
Y
Kawai
H
H
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D007519:Isoantigens; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta