Gamma delta T cells are secondary participants in acute graft-versus-host reactions initiated by CD4+ alpha beta T cells.
To examine the role of T cell subpopulations in an acute graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction, gamma delta T cells and alpha beta T cells expressing one of the two prototypic V beta families were negatively isolated from adult blood samples and injected into allogeneic chick embryos. CD4+ alpha beta T cells expressing either V beta 1 or V beta 2 receptors were equally capable of inducing acute GVH reactions, consistent with the idea that alpha beta T cell alloreactivity is determined by CDR3 variability. By themselves, the gamma delta T cells were incapable of inducing GVH reactions. However, host gamma delta T cells were recruited into the donor alpha beta T cell-initiated lesions, where they were activated and induced to proliferate. The data suggest that gamma delta T cells may play a secondary role in GVH reactions.
Tsuji
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S
Division of Developmental and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294-3000 USA.
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D
Bucy
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Simonsen
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M
Chen
C H
CH
Cooper
M D
MD
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000276:immunology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta