Cutting edge: differential self-peptide/MHC requirement for maintaining CD8 T cell function versus homeostatic proliferation.
Memory T cells do not require self-peptide/MHC (spMHC) complexes to survive long term in vivo. However, memory CD4 T cells lose the ability to reject skin grafts when transiently placed in an environment in which these low-level TCR stimulations are absent. Whether or not spMHC alters the ability of CD8 T cells to respond to stimulation in vivo remains unknown. Here, we show that memory CD8 T cells retain the ability to respond to dendritic cell-mediated stimulation after adoptive transfer into either TAP(-/-) (MHC class I-deficient) or wild-type mice. Surprisingly, naive CD8 T cells, which fail to undergo homeostatic proliferation and erode in number in the absence of MHC class I, also retain the ability to respond to dendritic cell-mediated antigenic stimulation for at least 1 wk after transfer into TAP(-/-) mice. These findings suggest a differential requirement for spMHC signals for maintenance of CD8 T cell function and homeostatic proliferation.
Jabbari
Ali
A
Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Harty
John T
JT
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000502:physiology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics
D001324:Autoantigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell