Identification and characterization of Xenopus CD8+ T cells expressing an NK cell-associated molecule.
Growing evidence suggests that some immune responses are mediated not only by conventional and distinct NK cells and CTL, but also by T cell subsets expressing NK receptors and NK cell-associated molecules. Consistent with our previously published finding that the mAb 1F8 identifies non-T/non-B cells in Xenopus that effect NK-like killing in vitro, we now report that in vivo treatment with this mAb impairs rejection of transplanted MHC class I-negative tumor cells. However, we also find that the NK cell-associated molecule recognized by mAb 1F8 is expressed by a minor population of CD8+ T cells, in which fully rearranged TCRbeta mRNA of at least three different V families can be identified, by contrast, 1F8+/CD8- (NK) cells lack such TCRbeta message. Additionally, the expression of the NK cell-associated molecule can be induced in vitro by a transient submitogenic stimulation of naïve CD8+ T cells with PMA and ionomycin. Such induced expression of 1F8 also occurs in alloantigen-activated CTL and is coincident with a down-regulation of MHC-specific cytotoxicity. Taken together, these new data suggest that regulation of CD8+ T cell activity involving NK cell-associated molecules is a general and evolutionarily ancient phenomenon.
Rau
Laura
L
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
Gantress
Jennifer
J
Bell
Alisa
A
Stewart
Rebecca
R
Horton
Trudy
T
Cohen
Nicholas
N
Horton
John
J
Robert
Jacques
J
D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000235:genetics; D014981:Xenopus / Q000276:immunology*
D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta