Naive CD8+ T cells do not require costimulation for proliferation and differentiation into cytotoxic effector cells.
Most current models of T cell activation postulate a requirement for two distinct signals. One signal is delivered through the TCR by engagement with peptide/MHC complexes, and the second is delivered by interaction between costimulatory molecules such as CD28 and its ligands CD80 and CD86. Soluble peptide/MHC tetramers provide an opportunity to test whether naive CD8+ T cells can be activated via the signal generated through the TCR-alphabeta in the absence of any potential costimulatory molecules. Using T cells from two different TCR transgenic mice in vitro, we find that TCR engagement by peptide/MHC tetramers is sufficient for the activation of naive CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, these T cells proliferate, produce cytokines, and differentiate into cytolytic effectors. Under the conditions where anti-CD28 is able to enhance proliferation of normal B6 CD4+, CD8+, and TCR transgenic CD8+ T cells with anti-CD3, we see no effect of anti-CD28 on proliferation induced by tetramers. The results of this experiment argue that given a strong signal delivered through the TCR by an authentic ligand, no costimulation is required.
Wang
B
B
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Maile
R
R
Greenwood
R
R
Collins
E J
EJ
Frelinger
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006182:H-Y Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007399:Interphase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006182:H-Y Antigen; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D014764:Viral Proteins; C094244:glycoprotein peptide 33-41, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus