Blind T-cell homeostasis in CD4-deficient mice.
Recently, it has been proposed that normal T-cell count is maintained by a homeostatic mechanism which is "blind" to the distinction between CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. Interest in this blind homeostasis hypothesis (BHH) stems in part from its implications regarding the pathogenesis and treatment of HIV infection. In this report, BHH was tested in CD4-deficient mice. We found that as predicted by BHH, despite the absence of CD4+ T cells, CD4-deficient mice maintain normal absolute T-cell counts in the blood and spleen primarily through a marked increase in CD8+ T cells. These findings provide strong new support for BHH.
Adleman
L M
LM
Laboratory for Molecular Science and Department of Computer Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
Wofsy
D
D
D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens