Homeostatic expansion occurs independently of costimulatory signals

J Immunol. 2001 Nov 15;167(10):5664-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.167.10.5664.

Abstract

Naive T cells undergo homeostatic proliferation in lymphopenic mice, a process that involves TCR recognition of specific self peptide/MHC complexes. Since costimulation signals regulate the T cell response to foreign Ags, we asked whether they also regulate homeostatic expansion. We report in this study that homeostatic expansion of CD4 and CD8 T cells occurs independently of costimulation signals mediated through CD28/B7, CD40L/CD40, or 4-1BB/4-1BBL interactions. Using DO11.10 TCR transgenic T cells, we confirmed that CD28 expression was dispensable for homeostatic expansion, and showed that the presence of endogenous CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory cells did not detectably influence homeostatic expansion. The implications of these findings with respect to regulation of T cell homeostasis and autoimmunity are discussed.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • 4-1BB Ligand
  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Autoimmunity
  • CD28 Antigens / genetics
  • CD28 Antigens / physiology*
  • CD40 Antigens / genetics
  • CD40 Antigens / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Genes, T-Cell Receptor
  • Homeostasis
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / analysis
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / physiology*

Substances

  • 4-1BB Ligand
  • CD28 Antigens
  • CD40 Antigens
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Tnfsf9 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha