Substantial in vivo proliferation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes during secondary Listeria monocytogenes infection.
In mice Listeria monocytogenes infection induces a strong T cell response. In an attempt to quantitatively analyze the magnitude and kinetics of the CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell response during L. monocytogenes infection in vivo we used a T cell transfer system that is independent of in vitro cell culture techniques and information about the identity of immunogenic T cell epitopes. Our results demonstrate substantial expansion of the in vivo primed and transferred T cell populations in response to L. monocytogenes. At the peak of response, transferred T cells represented more than one third of the total CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell populations in blood and spleen of recipient mice. After stimulation in vitro, 40 % of these CD4(+) T cells responded to heat-killed listeriae with the production of IFN-gamma. Thus, our results reveal that in addition to the large CD8(+) T cell population an almost equally large population of Listeria-reactive CD4(+) T cells is generated in response to L. monocytogenes infection.
Mittrücker
H W
HW
Max-Planck-Institute for Infection Biology, Department of Immunology, Berlin, Germany. mitrueker@mpiib-berlin.mpg.de
Köhler
A
A
Kaufmann
S H
SH
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007700:Kinetics; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000276:immunology*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D007371:Interferon-gamma