Mature T cells of autoimmune lpr/lpr mice have a defect in antigen-stimulated suicide.
Antigen receptor-stimulated cell death of developing, immature T cells plays an important role in shaping the repertoire of antigens to which mature T cells will respond, but a role for receptor-stimulated death in controlling responses of mature T cells is controversial. Mutant lpr/lpr mice exhibit an autoimmune syndrome similar to systemic lupus erythematosus. Here we demonstrate that these mice have a defect in antigen-stimulated suicide of activated T cells in mature CD4+ and CD8+ T cell compartments. The defective suicide pathway is evident when the T cells are stimulated with antigen on antigen-presenting cells or with immobilized anti-CD3 in the absence of antigen-presenting cells. These studies, in concert with the work of others, suggest that antigen-stimulated death of mature cells may be important both in establishing peripheral tolerance and in limiting inflammation during normal immune responses.
Russell
J H
JH
Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.
Rush
B
B
Weaver
C
C
Wang
R
R
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D016923:Cell Death; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D004768:Enterotoxins; C026066:enterotoxin A, Staphylococcal