Lymphokine gene expression related to CD4 T cell subset (CD45R/CDw29) phenotype conversion.
In this study, we investigated whether the phenotype-related differentiation of human 2H4+ (CD45R) naive cells to 2H4- (CDw29) memory CD4 cells corresponded to modulation of interleukin (IL) 2, IL 4, interferon (IFN)-gamma and granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene expression, a phenomenon which might correlate to the distinct functional activities of naive cells or memory cells. To mimic in vitro CD4 T cell subset differentiation, freshly isolated 2H4+ and 2H4- CD4 cells were stimulated with the anti-CD3 antibody (Leu-4), expanded in IL 2-containing medium and restimulated with Leu-4 after 7 and 13 days. Absence of monocyte-T cell interaction was compensated by adding monocyte supernatant to the culture medium and by cross-linking the anti-CD3 antibodies with goat anti-mouse antibody coated on culture dishes. It has been previously shown that in vitro stimulated 2H4+ cells acquire CDw29 surface antigens. Measurement of lymphokine gene expression by dot-blot hybridization revealed that although stimulated 2H4+ cells proliferated less than stimulated 2H4- cells, and expressed less actin mRNA, they expressed more IL 2 but less IL 4 and GM-CSF than 2H4- cells. No significant difference was observed between the two subsets for the expression of IFN-gamma. If subsets were restimulated with Leu-4 antibodies, expression of IL 2 was decreased and expression of IL 4 was increased in both subsets; however, the differences among the subsets persisted. They were even more enhanced for IL 2 but less pronounced for GM-CSF. Thus, in spite of phenotype conversion, CD4 T cell subsets maintained a distinct capacity to express IL 2 and IL 4 genes.
Bettens
F
F
Institute for Clinical Immunology, Inselspital, Berne, Switzerland.
Walker
C
C
Gauchat
J F
JF
Gauchat
D
D
Wyss
T
T
Pichler
W J
WJ
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019012:Integrin beta1; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D006133:Growth Substances; D019012:Integrin beta1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008222:Lymphokines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens