Work

Duration of the initial TCR stimulus controls the magnitude but not functionality of the CD8+ T cell response

Year: 2006

Type: article

Abstract: CD8+ T cells only require a brief stimulation with antigen in vitro to divide and differentiate into effector and memory cells upon transfer in vivo. The efficiency of clonal expansion and the functional characteristics of memory cells derived from briefly stimulated cells are poorly defined. We developed a system that allowed us to examine programming entirely in vivo. This was achieved by rapidly killing peptide-pulsed DCs carrying a diphtheria toxin receptor transgene with timed injections of diphtheria toxin without altering the course of an accompanying infection. The magnitude of clonal expansion, but not the functionality of the effector cells, correlated directly with the duration of antigen exposure. Furthermore, memory T cells were capable of mounting a secondary response, regardless of the length of antigen encounter during the primary response. These results indicate that the duration of initial antigen encounter influences the magnitude of the primary response, but does not program responsiveness during the secondary challenge.

Source: The Journal of Experimental Medicine

DOI: 10.1084/jem.20060928

Authors: Martin Prlic, Gabriela Hernandez-Hoyos, Michael J. Bevan

Institutions: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington

Language: English

Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases