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γδ T cells are critical for the induction of anterior chamber‐associated immune deviation
Author(s) -
Xu Yijun,
Kapp Judith A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2001.01285.x
Subject(s) - antigen , immunology , immune system , antibody , immune tolerance , t cell , monoclonal antibody , immune privilege , biology , medicine
Summary Anterior chamber‐associated immune deviation (ACAID) is a systemic form of tolerance that is elicited by introducing antigens into the anterior chamber of the eye. ACAID is characterized by deficiencies in delayed‐type hypersensitivity and complement‐fixing antibodies upon subsequent challenge with antigen. The mechanisms responsible for the generation of this form of tolerance are not yet completely clear. Here we asked whether γδ T cells, which are critical in the induction of oral tolerance and nasal tolerance, play a role in ACAID. The percentage of splenic γδ T cells was higher in mice that received antigen via the anterior chamber compared to untreated mice. In addition, CD44 was up‐regulated on some splenic γδ and αβ T cells after the intraocular injection of antigen. Moreover, administration of antigen into the anterior chamber did not induce ACAID in the C57BL/6 mice pretreated with anti‐mouse δ‐chain monoclonal antibody or in the γδ T‐cell‐receptor‐deficient (δ −/− ) mice. γδ T cells from wild‐type mice reconstituted ACAID when transferred into the δ −/− mice before injection of antigen, verifying that the deficiency in δ −/− mice results from the lack of γδ T cells rather than from an inadvertent change caused by deletion of the δ‐chain. These findings indicate that γδ T cells play a very important role in ocular tolerance.