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

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

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / physiology
  • Animals
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / physiology
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Ligands
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Lymphopenia / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / physiology*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / analysis

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • TAP1 protein, human
  • Tap1 protein, mouse