Long-term CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cells developed in severe combined immunodeficiency mice during homoeostasis exhibit differences in sensitivity to antigen.
T cells transferred in small numbers to lymphopenic hosts proliferate spontaneously, and naïve T cells turn into memory cells without complete cellular reconstitution of the lymphoid compartment. In this study, neonatal severe combined immunodeficiency mice were treated with peripheral CD4+ or CD8+ T cells purified from the spleen of syngeneic C.B-17 mice. At 2 weeks and more pronounced at 10 weeks post treatment, a majority of the residing donor T cells showed memory phenotype, with high expression of CD44 and an early onset of proliferation and cytokine production upon stimulation. These memory type of donor cells were sustained in numbers for at least 1.5 years post treatment in a homoeostatic fashion, recognized by normal CD4/CD8 ratio and no bias towards type 1 or type 2 immune response. Furthermore, amongst the memory type of cells, there was a striking difference in their response, where the CD8+ donor cells had higher threshold for stimulation than the CD4+ donor cells.
Pettersson
F Ekholm
FE
Department of Vaccine Research, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala University, SE-751 89 Uppsala, Sweden.
Grönvik
K-O
KO
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell