The primary site of CD4- 8- B220+ alphabeta T cells in lpr mice: the appendix in normal mice

J Immunol. 1998 Mar 15;160(6):2665-74.

Abstract

There have been no reports on an abundance of CD4- 8- B220+ alphabeta T cells, seen in autoimmune mice carrying the lpr gene (abnormal Fas gene), in any immune organs of normal mice. We herein report, however, that such alphabeta T cells were abundant at intraepithelial sites of the appendix in normal mice. They lacked the expression of NK1.1 Ags (C57BL/6 mice), but had the morphology of granular lymphocytes and contained forbidden T cell clones in the minor lymphocyte-stimulating antigen (Mls) system (C3H/He mice with Mls-1b2a). In other words, many properties of intraepithelial T cells in the appendix resembled those ascribed to abnormal alphabeta T cells, which expand in the lymph nodes and spleen of lpr mice. In the case of lpr mice, CD4- 8- B220+ alphabeta T cells first expanded in the appendix and then extended to other organs. CD4- 8- B220+ alphabeta T cells seemed to originate in situ from c-kit+ stem cells in the appendix. These results suggest that the appendix is one of the primary sites in which CD4- 8- B220+ alphabeta T cells exist, and that these cells carry many primordial properties as prototype T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Appendix / immunology*
  • CD4 Antigens / analysis*
  • CD8 Antigens / analysis*
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / analysis*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred MRL lpr / immunology*
  • Mice, Nude
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / analysis
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / analysis*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / physiology*

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD8 Antigens
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens