In vivo persistence of expanded clones specific for bacterial antigens within the human T cell receptor alpha/beta CD4-8- subset.
Open Access
- 1 June 1993
- journal article
- Published by Rockefeller University Press in The Journal of Experimental Medicine
- Vol. 177 (6), 1763-1771
- https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.177.6.1763
Abstract
We analyzed the T cell receptor (TCR) rearrangements of 100 TCR-alpha/beta CD4-CD8- (double negative [DN]) T cell clones from normal individuals. We found that in four out of six donors this subset contains expanded clones that often account for 0.5% and, in one individual, even 7% of all peripheral blood lymphocytes. By combining limiting dilution analysis and N region oligotyping of polymerase chain reaction amplified TCR cDNA, we could measure the clonal size and show that two of these expanded clones remain stable in size for up to 4 yr in peripheral blood. The expanded clones analyzed ex vivo are not cycling and CD45 RAhi ROlo, but express high levels of alpha 4/beta 1 integrins, suggesting that they may have reverted to resting cells after activation. One of these expanded DN clones proliferates in vitro in response to Escherichia coli presented by monocytes cultured in GM-CSF plus IL-4 and kills CD1a+ Molt-4 cells. In contrast to what was found in the alpha/beta DN subset, alpha/beta CD4+ T cell clones specific for a tetanus toxin epitope showed a very small clonal size (< 1 in 10(7)) and could not be reisolated after 2 yr. Taken together, these results indicate that large clonal size and persistence are distinctive features of alpha/beta DN cells specific for bacterial antigens. These cells may use antigen-presenting cells, restriction molecules, and selection routes different from those used by antigen-specific CD4+ T cells.Keywords
This publication has 44 references indexed in Scilit:
- An unusual lineage of alpha/beta T cells that contains autoreactive cells.The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1991
- Loss of activation-induced CD45RO with maintenance of CD45RA expression during prolonged culture of T cells and NK cells.1991
- Unusual alpha beta-T cells expanded in autoimmune lpr mice are probably a counterpart of normal T cells in the liver.The Journal of Immunology, 1991
- The appearance of T cells bearing self-reactive T cell receptor in the livers of mice injected with bacteria.The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1991
- CD4 and CD8 act as co-receptors during thymic selection of the T cell repertoire.1991
- Studies on the human T cell receptor α/β variable region genes. II. Identification of four additional Vβ subfamiliesEuropean Journal of Immunology, 1991
- Role of Lymphocyte Adhesion Receptors in Transient Interactions and Cell LocomotionAnnual Review of Immunology, 1991
- A gentle fixation and permeabilization method for combined cell surface and intracellular staining with improved precision in DNA quantificationCytometry, 1991
- T-CELL RECEPTOR ALPHA/BETA-EXPRESSING DOUBLE-NEGATIVE (CD4-/CD8-) AND CD4+ T-HELPER CELLS IN HUMANS AUGMENT THE PRODUCTION OF PATHOGENIC ANTI-DNA AUTOANTIBODIES ASSOCIATED WITH LUPUS NEPHRITIS1989
- Double-negative (CD4-CD8-) lymphocytes bearing T-cell receptor alpha and beta chains in normal human skin.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1989