Evolution of a complex T cell receptor repertoire during primary and recall bacterial infection.
The mechanisms underlying the genesis and maintenance of T cell memory remain unclear. In this study, we examined the evolution of a complex, antigen-specific T cell population during the transition from primary effector to memory T cells after Listeria monocytogenes infection. T cell populations specific for listeriolysin O (LLO)91-99, the immunodominant epitope recognized by H2-Kd-restricted T lymphocytes, were directly identified in immune spleens using tetrameric H2-Kd-epitope complexes. The T cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta repertoire of specific T cells was determined by direct, ex vivo staining with a panel of mAbs. We demonstrate that LLO91-99-specific, primary effector T cell populations have a diverse TCR Vbeta repertoire. Analyses of memory T cell populations demonstrated similar TCR diversity. Furthermore, experiments with individual mice demonstrated that primary effector and memory T cells have indistinguishable TCR repertoires. Remarkably, after reinfection with L. monocytogenes, LLO91-99-specific T cells have a narrower TCR repertoire than do primary effector or memory T cells. Thus, our studies show that the TCR repertoire of primary effector T lymphocytes is uniformly transmitted to memory T cells, whereas expansion of memory T cells is selective.
Busch
D H
DH
Section of Infectious Diseases and the Section of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
Pilip
I
I
Pamer
E G
EG
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C038705:hlyA protein, Listeria monocytogenes