Clonal expansion precedes anergy and death of V beta 8+ peripheral T cells responding to staphylococcal enterotoxin B in vivo.
Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) selectively stimulates T cells bearing T cell receptor V beta 8 domains and hence provides a useful model to study immunity and tolerance in vivo. We show here that V beta 8+ T cells in both CD4+ and CD8+ subsets expand dramatically (fivefold) in lymphoid tissues of mice 2-4 days following injection with SEB. This initial clonal expansion, which is accompanied by a transient hyper-reactivity to SEB, is followed by a rapid decrease in V beta 8+ cells and a concomitant induction of specific non-responsiveness which persists for at least 30 days. Selective death of V beta 8+ cells occurs during this latter phase. Taken together, our data indicate that clonal expansion, anergy and death can occur as sequential stages of an immune response in vivo.
MacDonald
H R
HR
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Epalinges, Switzerland.
Baschieri
S
S
Lees
R K
RK
D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002470:Cell Survival; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal