Functional analysis of the TCR alpha- beta+ cells that accumulate in the pneumonic lung of influenza virus-infected TCR-alpha-/- mice.
In mice homozygous (-/-) for a targeted TCR-alpha gene disruption, some thymocytes express a cell-surface TCR-beta chain on the cell surface in the absence of a TCR-alpha chain, and a few CD4+CD8- TCR-alpha-beta+ cells accumulate in the peripheral lymphoid organs. We have infected these mutant mice with an influenza A virus to show that large numbers of TCR-beta+ cells (most of which are CD4+) can be retrieved from the pneumonic lung. Both freshly isolated TCR-alpha-beta+ cells and TCR-alpha-beta+ hybridoma cell lines derived from influenza virus-infected mutant mice respond appropriately to stimulation with anti-CD3 epsilon or the Mls-1 superantigen. It thus seems that CD4+ TCR-alpha-beta+ cells in the peripheral lymphoid organs of TCR-alpha mutant mice can signal through their TCR surface complex. However, there are no indications that CD4+ TCR-alpha-beta+ lymphocytes can either recognize a complex between MHC and influenza virus peptide or act as effector or Th cells. The existence and function of such cells in wild-type mice remains to be established.
Eichelberger
M
M
Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38101.
McMickle
A
A
Blackman
M
M
Mombaerts
P
P
Tonegawa
S
S
Doherty
P C
PC
D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D006825:Hybridomas; D009980:Influenza A virus; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D017252:CD3 Complex; D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018089:Superantigens