Long-term T cell memory requires the surface expression of self-peptide/major histocompatibility complex molecules.
How memory T cells are maintained in vivo is poorly understood. To address this problem, a male-specific peptide (H-Y) was identified and used to activate female anti-H-Y T cells in vitro. Anti-H-Y T cells survived in vivo for at least 70 days in the absence of antigen. This persistence was not because of the intrinsic ability of memory T cells to survive in vivo. Instead, the survival and function of adoptively transferred memory cells was found to require transporter of antigen protein 1-dependent expression of self-peptide/major histocompatibility complex class I molecules in recipient animals. Therefore, it appears that the level of T cell receptor engagement provided by transporter of antigen protein 1-dependent, self-peptide/major histocompatibility complexes is sufficient to maintain the long-term survival and functional phenotype of memory cells in the absence of persistent antigen. These data suggest that positive selection plays a role not only in T cell development but also in the maintenance of T cell memory.
Markiewicz
M A
MA
Gwen Knapp Center for Lupus and Immunology Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Girao
C
C
Opferman
J T
JT
Sun
J
J
Hu
Q
Q
Agulnik
A A
AA
Bishop
C E
CE
Thompson
C B
CB
Ashton-Rickardt
P G
PG
D000071181:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006182:H-Y Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D000071181:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000939:Epitopes; D006182:H-Y Antigen; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C073119:TAP1 protein, human; C486171:Tap1 protein, mouse