Human CD8+ T lymphocytes can be divided into CD45RA+ and CD45RO+ cells with different requirements for activation and differentiation.
The functional distinction between CD45RA+ and CD45RO+ cells within the human CD4+ T cell subset is well established. This study was undertaken to investigate whether a similar division can be made within the CD8+ T cell population. A quantitative comparison was made of the requirements for activation and differentiation of CD8+CD45RA+ and CD8+CD45RO+ cells. Stimulation of T lymphocytes with anti-CD3 mAb immobilized at high-density induced strong proliferation and CTL activity in both CD45RA+ and CD45RO+ cells. Suboptimal TCR/CD3 triggering, in contrast, induced substantially higher levels of proliferation and CTL activity in CD8+CD45RO+ cells compared with their CD45RA+ counterparts. Lymphokine secretion (i.e., Il-2 and TNF-alpha) was under any condition more readily induced in CD8+CD45RO+ cells. Markedly, proliferation of both CD8+CD45RA+ and CD8+CD45RO+ T cells initiated by anti-CD3 mAb immobilized at high densities was not inhibited by addition of anti-CD25 mAb, in contrast to proliferation induced by suboptimal anti-CD3 mAb concentrations. These findings show that a functional division between CD45RA+ and CD45RO+ T cells with distinct requirements for activation and differentiation may also be made in the CD8+ subset.
de Jong
R
R
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
Brouwer
M
M
Miedema
F
F
van Lier
R A
RA
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008222:Lymphokines; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha