Helper T cells without CD4: control of leishmaniasis in CD4-deficient mice.
Expression of either the CD4 or CD8 glycoproteins discriminates two functionally distinct lineages of T lymphocytes. A null mutation in the gene encoding CD4 impairs the development of the helper cell lineage that is normally defined by CD4 expression. Infection of CD4-null mice with Leishmania has revealed a population of functional helper T cells that develops despite the absence of CD4. These CD8- alpha beta T cell receptor+ T cells are major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted and produce interferon-gamma when challenged with parasite antigens. These results indicate that T lymphocyte lineage commitment and peripheral function need not depend on the function of CD4.
Locksley
R M
RM
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0654.
Reiner
S L
SL
Hatam
F
F
Littman
D R
DR
Killeen
N
N
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007895:Leishmania tropica / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma