title: Memory T-lymphocyte survival does not require T-cell receptor expression.
abstract: The factors controlling memory T (Tm)-cell longevity are still poorly defined, and their identification is pivotal to the design of a vaccine conferring long-term protection against infection. Tm cells have the ability to survive in the absence of the T-cell receptor (TCR)-MHC interaction. This does not exclude a possible role for TCR-intrinsic ligand-independent constitutive signaling in Tm-cell homeostasis. Using a unique TCR tetracycline-inducible expression system, we show that the ablation of TCR expression, which abrogates any possible signaling via the TCR, did not influence the survival and self-renewal of antigen-specific CD8(+) Tm cells even when they have to compete with endogenous T cells for survival factors. Moreover, CD8(+) Tm-cell functionality was not altered even on prolonged maintenance in the absence of TCR-MHC interactions. Furthermore, our results show that a subset of CD4(+) Tm cells can survive in the absence of TCR expression in nonlymphopenic hosts.
authors.affiliation: Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H1T 2M4.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leignadier
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Marilyne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cloutier
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rooney
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Labrecque
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D013752:Tetracycline