[PDF][PDF] Counting antigen-specific CD8 T cells: a reevaluation of bystander activation during viral infection

K Murali-Krishna, JD Altman, M Suresh, DJD Sourdive… - Immunity, 1998 - cell.com
K Murali-Krishna, JD Altman, M Suresh, DJD Sourdive, AJ Zajac, JD Miller, J Slansky…
Immunity, 1998cell.com
Viral infections induce extensive T cell proliferation in vivo, but the specificity of the majority
of the responding T cells has not been defined. To address this issue we used tetramers of
MHC class I molecules containing viral peptides to directly visualize antigen-specific CD8 T
cells during acute LCMV infection of mice. Based on tetramer binding and two sensitive
assays measuring interferon-γ production at the single-cell level, we found that 50%–70% of
the activated CD8 T cells were LCMV specific (2× 10 7 virus-specific cells/spleen). Following …
Abstract
Viral infections induce extensive T cell proliferation in vivo, but the specificity of the majority of the responding T cells has not been defined. To address this issue we used tetramers of MHC class I molecules containing viral peptides to directly visualize antigen-specific CD8 T cells during acute LCMV infection of mice. Based on tetramer binding and two sensitive assays measuring interferon-γ production at the single-cell level, we found that 50%–70% of the activated CD8 T cells were LCMV specific (2 × 107 virus-specific cells/spleen). Following viral clearance, antigen-specific CD8 T cell numbers dropped to 106 per spleen and were maintained at this level for the life of the mouse. Upon rechallenge with LCMV, there was rapid expansion of memory T cells, but after infection with the heterologous vaccinia virus there was no detectable change in the numbers of LCMV-specific memory CTL. Therefore, much of the CD8 T cell expansion seen during viral infection represents antigen-specific cells and warrants a revision of our current thinking on the size of the antiviral response.
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