Migration and function of antigen-primed nonpolarized T lymphocytes in vivo.
Upon antigenic stimulation, naive T lymphocytes proliferate and a fraction of the activated cells acquire a T helper cell type 1 (Th1) or Th2 phenotype as well as the capacity to migrate to inflamed tissues. However, the antigen-primed T cells that receive a short T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation do not acquire effector function and remain in a nonpolarized state. Using TCR transgenic CD4(+) T cells in an adoptive transfer system, we compared the in vivo migratory capacities of naive, nonpolarized, Th1 or Th2 cells. Although all cell types migrated to the spleen, only naive and nonpolarized T cells efficiently migrated to lymph nodes. In addition Th1, but not Th2, migrated to inflamed tissues. In the lymph nodes, nonpolarized T cells proliferated and acquired effector function in response to antigenic stimulation, displaying lower activation threshold and faster kinetics compared with naive T cells. These results suggest that nonpolarized T cells are in an intermediate state of differentiation characterized by lymph node homing capacity and increased responsiveness that allows them to mount a prompt and effective secondary response.
Iezzi
G
G
Basel Institute for Immunology, CH-4005 Basel, Switzerland.
Scheidegger
D
D
Lanzavecchia
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
C515371:Ccr7 protein, mouse; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; C064655:V(D)J recombination activating protein 2; D019041:L-Selectin