CD8 alphabeta+ TCR alphabeta(intermediate) lymphocytes expressing skewed TCRVbeta repertoire in the liver of aged athymic nu/nu mice.
Principally, TCRalphabeta cells differentiate and mature in the thymus. However, evidence has accumulated to suggest that some TCRalphabeta cells develop extrathymically. Such cells have been identified in athymic nu/nu mice that are devoid of a functional thymus. They appear relatively late in ontogeny and randomly increase in number as a function of age. Recently, the liver has been suggested as a candidate site for thymus-independent development of T cells. Here we show that CD8alphabeta+ T cells that express TCRalphabeta at intermediate intensity (TCRalpha(beta)int) are preferentially localized in the liver of nu/nu mice. This population encompassed cells expressing lectin cell adhesion molecule-1 and/or IL-2Rbeta and cells lacking either of these surface molecules. The CD8alphabeta+ TCRalpha(beta)int liver lymphocytes in nu/nu mice also differed in their LFA-1 expression marginally, whereas in C57BL/6 mice all CD8alphabeta+ TCRalpha(beta)int liver lymphocytes expressed LFA-1 at low intensity. Although the TCRVbeta repertoire markedly differed among individual animals, the CD8alphabeta+ TCRalpha(beta)int liver lymphocytes in nu/nu mice preferentially used TCRVbeta5 and/or TCRVbeta8. These findings show that CD8alphabeta+ TCRalpha(beta)int cells develop in the liver of nu/nu mice and that they arise randomly.
Emoto
M
M
Department of Immunology, University of Ulm, Germany.
Emoto
Y
Y
Kaufmann
S H
SH
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D018956:CD5 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
D018956:CD5 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D019041:L-Selectin