title: Peptide-specific T cell clonal expansion in vivo following immunization in the eye, an immune-privileged site.
abstract: To visualize the primary antigen-specific T cell response to Ag introduced into the eye, we have used an adoptive transfer system in which a limiting number of OVA peptide (323-339)-specific T cells from a TCR-transgenic mouse were transferred into nonirradiated, syngeneic recipients and then tracked in vivo by staining for FACS analysis or immunohistochemistry with the clonotypic mAb KJ1-26. Following posterior chamber injection of Ag, KJ1-26+ cells accumulated primarily in the draining, submandibular lymph node (LN) within 3 days. Although reduced in number, by day 6 these cells were primarily in the paracortical regions and were able to proliferate and secrete IL-2 in response to Ag stimulation. In contrast, following i.v. injection of Ag, the KJ1-26+ cells accumulated in the paracortical regions of the LN to a comparable degree, but did not proliferate or secrete IL-2. The day 3 accumulation of KJ1-26+ cells in the submandibular LN was inhibited if the eye was removed within 5 h after injection of Ag. In the spleen, foci of KJ1-26+ cells were observed in the periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths at day 3; these were not observed to the same degree following other forms of immunization. These results demonstrate that the submandibular LN is the primary site for early clonal expansion of antigen-specific T cells following intraocular Ag administration and that these cells show changes consistent with immunity rather than tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington 40536, USA.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yorkey
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Woodward
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005123:Eye / Q000276:immunology*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007114:Immunization; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D000939:Epitopes; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D010455:Peptides; D010047:Ovalbumin