MHC class I-dependent Vgamma4+ pulmonary T cells regulate alpha beta T cell-independent airway responsiveness.
Mice exposed to aerosolized ovalbumin (OVA) develop increased airway responsiveness when deficient in gammadelta T cells. This finding suggests that gammadelta T cells function as negative regulators. The regulatory influence of gammadelta T cells is evident after OVA-sensitization and -challenge, and after OVA-challenge alone, but not in untreated mice. With aerosolized Abs to target pulmonary T cells, we now demonstrate that negative regulation of airway responsiveness is mediated by a small subpopulation of pulmonary gammadelta T cells. These cells express Vgamma4 and depend in their function on the presence of IFN-gamma and MHC class I. Moreover, their effect can be demonstrated in the absence of alphabeta T cells. This novel type of negative regulation seems to precede the development of the adaptive, antigen-specific allergic response.
Lahn
Michael
M
Department of Immunology, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
Kanehiro
Arihiko
A
Takeda
Katsuyuki
K
Terry
Jennifer
J
Hahn
Youn-Soo
YS
Aydintug
M Kemal
MK
Konowal
Anatole
A
Ikuta
Koichi
K
O'Brien
Rebecca L
RL
Gelfand
Erwin W
EW
Born
Willi K
WK
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000276:immunology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I