Selection of pulmonary CD4-, CD8-, alpha beta+ T cells expressing V beta 8 T cell receptors.
The double negative (CD4-CD8-) alpha beta+ T cells constitute about 20% of all alpha beta+ T cells in murine lungs. We find that in BALB/c mice 60% of the double negative alpha beta+ pulmonary T cells express receptors of the V beta 8 family whereas only 33% of single positive (CD4+/CD8+) pulmonary T cells express V beta 8. However, in C57BL/6 mice, equal frequencies (25%) of double negative and single positive alpha beta+ pulmonary T cells express V beta 8. The high frequency of double negative V beta 8+ pulmonary T cells is dominantly inherited in (C57BL/6 X BALB/c) F1 offsprings. Further studies exclude the involvement of classic MHC region genes in determining the level of V beta 8 usage among double negative pulmonary T cells. Upon exposure to mycobacterial antigens, double negative alpha beta+ pulmonary T cells are co-enriched in vitro in parallel with gamma delta+ T cells.
Rajasekar
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R
Department of Medicine, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, CO 80206.
Augustin
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A
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta