Unique molecular surface features of in vivo tolerized T cells.
Differential expression of surface markers can frequently be used to distinguish functional subsets of T cells, yet a surface phenotype unique to T cells induced into an anergic state has not been described. Here, we report that CD4 T cells rendered anergic in vivo by superantigen can be identified by loss of the 6C10 T cell marker. Inoculation of Vbeta8.1 T cell antigen receptor (TCR) transgenic mice with a Vbeta8.1-reactive minor lymphocyte-stimulating superantigen (Mls-1(a)) induces tolerance to Mls-1(a) by clonal anergy. CD4 lymph node T cells from Mls-1(a) inoculated transgenic mice enriched for the 6C10(-) phenotype neither proliferate nor produce interleukin-2 upon TCR engagement, whereas 6C10(+) CD4 T cells retain responsiveness. Analysis of T cell memory markers demonstrate that 6C10(-) T cells remain 3G11(hi) but express heterogeneous levels of CD45RB, CD62L, CD44, and the CD69 early activation marker, suggesting that T cells at various degrees of activation can be functionally anergic. These studies demonstrate that anergic T cells can be purified based on 6C10 expression permitting examination of issues concerning biochemical and biological features specific to T cell anergy.
Maier
C C
CC
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Bhandoola
A
A
Borden
W
W
Yui
K
K
Hayakawa
K
K
Greene
M I
MI
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D017635:Clonal Anergy; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011994:Recombinant Proteins