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. 1999 Aug;11(2):183-90.
doi: 10.1016/s1074-7613(00)80093-x.

Low-affinity ligands for the TCR drive proliferation of mature CD8+ T cells in lymphopenic hosts

A W Goldrath  1 , M J Bevan
Affiliations

Low-affinity ligands for the TCR drive proliferation of mature CD8+ T cells in lymphopenic hosts

A W Goldrath et al. Immunity. 1999 Aug.

Abstract

In the absence of thymic emigration, the peripheral T cell pool is maintained by division of mature lymphocytes. We have examined the molecular interactions required for peripheral CD8+ T cell expansion in lymphopenic mice without conventional antigenic stimulation. Expansion of CD8+ T cells in lymphopenic hosts was found to be peptide specific. An antagonist peptide known to serve as a ligand for positive selection of these T cells promoted expansion; however, a control peptide that binds the same class I molecule did not. Surprisingly, the cells undergoing proliferation in lymphopenic hosts did not mature to cytotoxic effectors and displayed a partially activated surface phenotype. These data suggest that division of T cells in the periphery of lymphopenic hosts requires specific recognition of self-peptide/MHC complexes, similar to the signal for thymocyte maturation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Proliferation of Donor Cells in Lymphopenic Hosts Is MHC Class I Dependent
CD8+ T cells were enriched from pooled spleen and lymph node of OT-1 or OT-1 Thy1.1+ mice, labeled with CFSE, and 2 × 106 CD8+Vα2+ cells were injected per recipient. Splenocytes from hosts were analyzed 5 days after transfer for detection of CFSE+ donor OT-1 cells by staining with anti-CD8 and anti-Vα2. (A) CFSE expression is shown for OT-1 CD8+Vα2+ cells transferred into unirradiated B6, irradiated B6, or irradiated TAP° hosts. Similar results were observed with OT-1 RAG° donor cells and on days 3 and 6 post transfer in irradiated hosts. (B) CFSE expression is shown for OT-1 Thy1.1+ CD8+Vα2+ cells transferred into untreated B6, Thy1.2-depleted B6, or Thy1.2-depleted TAP° hosts.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Expression of ss-Peptide Transgenes
(A) Expression of H-2Kb is not upregulated in TAP° mice expressing ss-peptide transgenes. Expression levels of the MHC class I molecule Kb were compared on splenocytes from ss-OVApTAP° (thin black line), ss-R4TAP° (dashed line), ss-VSVTAP° (dotted line), TAP° (bold gray line), and B6 (bold black line) mice. (B) ss-peptide transgenic APC stimulate proliferation of peptide-specific CTL. Filled symbols represent ss-peptide transgene positive and open symbols represent control transgene negative APC. R4-specific CTL were incubated with ss-R4TAP° (filled triangles) and control TAP° (open triangles) splenocytes (left panel). VSV-specific CTL were incubated with ss-VSV (filled circles) and control B6 (open circles) splenocytes (right panel). Peptide-specific CTL (5 × 104) were cultured with increasing numbers of irradiated APC for 72 hr and were pulsed with [3H]thymidine for 18 hr.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Proliferation of OT-1 CD8+ T Cells in Irradiated TAP° Hosts Is Restored by Expression of an Antagonist Peptide
Donor cells were pooled spleen and lymph node from OT-1 (A) or OT-1 RAG° mice (B). CD8+Vα2+ CFSE-labeled cells (2 × 106) were injected per indicated host. CFSE expression is shown for CD8+Vα2+ cells from spleen on day 5 (A) or day 6 (B) post transfer. Data are representative of at least five experiments.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Exogenous R4 and ss-R4 Transgene-Expressing Cells Do Not Stimulate Proliferation or CTL Targeting by OT-1 CD8+ T cells
(A) OT-1 splenocytes were cultured with OVAp (circles), R4 (diamonds), or VSV (squares) peptides and irradiated B6 splenocytes and were pulsed with [3H]thymidine for 6 hr after 36 hr of culture. (B) OT-1 CTL were used at 10:1 effector to target ratio with OVAp (circles), R4 (diamonds), or VSV (squares) peptide coated and EL4 target cells. (C) OT-1 splenocytes were cultured with increasing numbers of irradiated splenocytes from the following mice: ss-OVATAP° (circles), B6 (triangles), ss-R4TAP° line 1 (open diamonds), ss-R4TAP° line 2 (filled diamonds), and ss-VSVTAP° (squares). The assay was pulsed with [3H]thymidine for 18 hr after 36 hr of culture. (D) OT-1 CTL were used at the indicated effector to target ratio with 51Cr-labeled Con A blasts as targets made from the following mice: ss-OVATAP° (circles), TAP° (triangles), ss-R4TAP° line 1 (open diamonds), and ss-VSVTAP° (squares).
Figure 5
Figure 5. Surface Phenotype of CD8+ T Cells Proliferating in Various Hosts
CD8+Vα2+ cells (2 × 106) from OT-1 RAG° mice were CFSE labeled, injected into irradiated hosts, and splenocytes were analyzed 6 days post transfer. (A) This panel shows Vα2 versus CFSE levels for CD8+ cells transferred into irradiated TAP°, B6, ss-R4TAP°, and ss-OVApTAP° hosts. (B) This panel compares levels of activation markers on the transferred OT-1 CD8+ T cells. Donor cells were gated on CD8+Vα2+ from TAP° (bold gray line), B6 (thin black line), ss-R4TAP° (dotted line), and ss-OVApTAP° (bold black line). Similar results were obtained 4 and 7 days post transfer.
Figure 6
Figure 6. OT-1 Cells Proliferating in Irradiated B6 and ss-R4TAP° Mice Do Not Become Cytotoxic Effector Cells
CD8+Vα2+ cells (2 × 106) from OT-1 RAG° mice were CFSE labeled and injected into irradiated B6 (triangles), ss-R4TAP° (diamonds), or ss-OVApTAP° (circles) hosts. Spleen cells were harvested on day 4 and assayed for lysis of OVAp-coated EL4 targets. Flow cytometry revealed that transferred OT-1 Vα2+CD8+ cells represented 15%, 6%, and 75% of splenocytes recovered from B6, ss-R4TAP°, or ss-OVApTAP° hosts, respectively (data not shown). The E:T was based on the number of CD8+Vα2+ cells used as effectors. The wells were normalized for total cell number by diluting cells recovered from B6 (triangles) and ss-OVApTAP° hosts (filled circles) with fresh B6 splenocytes to 6% CD8+Vα2+ cells, or cells recovered from ss-OVApTAP° hosts were used undiluted (open circles). For all effectors at all E:T ratios, lysis of EL4 targets in the absence of peptide was less than 3% (data not shown).
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