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The naïve CD8+ T cell pool contains a variable frequency of memory phenotype T cells bearing the signature of homeostatic expansion
Author(s) -
Kedl Ross M,
Teodorovic Lenka,
Haluszczak Catherine,
Jenkins Marc
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.2_supplement.355
Subject(s) - antigen , t cell receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , cytotoxic t cell , antigen presenting cell , biology , t cell , homeostasis , immunology , il 2 receptor , chemistry , immune system , in vitro , biochemistry
Naïve T cells, those not having experienced antigenic stimulation, express lower levels of a variety of molecular markers and receptors compared to T cells which have either encountered antigen or undergone homeostatic expansion. Using a novel method, we have identified the antigen specific naïve T cell repertoire within a non‐immunized host and found a population of antigen‐specific “naïve” T cells which express increased amounts of the activation marker and adhesion receptor, CD44. These CD44hi naïve T cells also express increased levels of LFA1 and CD122, but not VLA4, a phenotype consistent with homeostatic expansion rather than antigen stimulation. While CD44hi naïve cells do not appear to expand more rapidly than CD44lo cells in response to antigen, they do access peripheral sites of inflammation/infection prior to antigen driven expansion of either naïve subset within the draining lymphoid tissue. Collectively, our data indicate that the naïve T cell repertoire actually consists of antigen inexperienced cells with both naïve and memory functional traits.