title: Characteristics and maintenance of CD8+ T-cell clones found in old mice.
abstract: Old mice, like old human beings, contain large clones of CD8+ T-cells. These cells grow poorly in tissue culture, therefore it is difficult to maintain the cells in vitro. The cells can be grown after transfer to sublethally irradiated mice. This technique will be useful in further studies on the properties of the cells. Based on observations from such transfer experiments, we conclude that: (1) expansion of the T-cell clones in recipients is dramatic but slow; (2) chance events caused by endogenous antigens or gene mutations rather than exogenous antigens may account for the expansion of these clones; and (3) the expanded T-cell clones are benign and do not cause malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National Jewish Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kappler
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marrack
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002455:Cell Division; D002999:Clone Cells; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation