Development of CD4+ T cells expressing a nominally MHC class I-restricted T cell receptor by two different mechanisms.
Differences in T cell receptor (TCR) signaling initiated by interactions among TCRs, coreceptors, and self-peptide-MHC complexes determine the outcome of CD4 versus CD8 lineage of T cell differentiation. The H-2Ld and Kbm3 alloreactive 2C TCR is positively selected by MHC class I Kb and a yet-to-be identified nonclassical class I molecule to differentiate into CD8+ T cells. Here we describe two mechanisms by which CD4+ 2C T cells can be generated in 2C TCR-transgenic mice. In the RAG-/- background, development of CD4+ 2C T cells requires the expression of both I-Ab and the TAP genes, indicating that both MHC class I and II molecules are required for positive selection of these T cells. Notably, only some of the 2C+ RAG-/- mice (approximately 30%) develop CD4+ 2C T cells, with frequencies in individual mice varying from 0.5% to as high as approximately 50%. In the RAG+ background, where endogenous TCRalpha genes are rearranged and expressed, CD4+ 2C T cells are generated because these cells express the 2C TCR as well as additional TCRs, consisting of the 2C TCRbeta and endogenous TCRalpha chains. Similarly, T cells expressing the OT-1 TCR, which is nominally MHC class I-restricted, can also develop into CD4+ T cells through the same two mechanisms. Thus, expression of two TCRs by a single thymocyte, TCR recognition of multiple MHC molecules, and heterogeneity of TCR, coreceptors, and peptide-MHC interactions in the thymus all contribute to the outcome of CD4 versus CD8 lineage development.
Ge
Qing
Q
Center for Cancer Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Holler
Phillip D
PD
Mahajan
Vinay S
VS
Nuygen
Tam
T
Eisen
Herman N
HN
Chen
Jianzhu
J
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell