Open AccessHomeostatic expansion and phenotypic conversion of naïve T cells in response to self peptide/MHC ligands
Author(s) -
William C. Kieper,
Stephen C. Jameson
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.96.23.13306
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , major histocompatibility complex , mhc class ii , mhc class i , t cell , mhc restriction , antigen presenting cell , streptamer , antigen presentation , cd1 , cytotoxic t cell , antigen , immunology , immune system , in vitro , biochemistry
Recent data suggest that survival of resting, naïve T cells requires an interaction with self MHC molecules. From analysis of the class I MHC-restricted T cell receptor transgenic strain OT-I, we report a different response. Rather than merely surviving, these T cells proliferated slowly after transfer into T-depleted syngeneic hosts. This expansion required both T cell “space” and expression of normal levels of self class I MHC molecules. Furthermore, we demonstrate that during homeostatic expansion in a suitable environment, naïve phenotype (CD44low ) OT-I T cells converted to memory phenotype (CD44med/high ), despite the absence of foreign antigenic stimulation. On the other hand, cells undergoing homeostatic expansion did not acquire cytolytic effector function. The significance of these data for reactivity of T cells with self peptide/MHC ligands and the implications for normal and abnormal T cell homeostasis are discussed.