T cell vaccination induces T cell receptor Vβ-specific Qa-1-restricted regulatory CD8+ T cells

H Jiang, H Kashleva, LX Xu, J Forman… - Proceedings of the …, 1998 - National Acad Sciences
H Jiang, H Kashleva, LX Xu, J Forman, L Flaherty, B Pernis, NS Braunstein, L Chess
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1998National Acad Sciences
Vaccination of mice with activated autoantigen-reactive CD4+ T cells (T cell vaccination,
TCV) has been shown to induce protection from the subsequent induction of a variety of
experimental autoimmune diseases, including experimental allergic encephalomyelitis
(EAE). Although the mechanisms involved in TCV-mediated protection are not completely
known, there is some evidence that TCV induces CD8+ regulatory T cells that are specific for
pathogenic CD4+ T cells. Previously, we demonstrated that, after superantigen …
Vaccination of mice with activated autoantigen-reactive CD4+ T cells (T cell vaccination, TCV) has been shown to induce protection from the subsequent induction of a variety of experimental autoimmune diseases, including experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Although the mechanisms involved in TCV-mediated protection are not completely known, there is some evidence that TCV induces CD8+ regulatory T cells that are specific for pathogenic CD4+ T cells. Previously, we demonstrated that, after superantigen administration in vivo, CD8+ T cells emerge that preferentially lyse and regulate activated autologous CD4+ T cells in a T cell receptor (TCR) Vβ-specific manner. This TCR Vβ-specific regulation is not observed in β2-microglobulin-deficient mice and is inhibited, in vitro, by antibody to Qa-1. We now show that similar Vβ8-specific Qa-1-restricted CD8+ T cells are also induced by TCV with activated CD4+ Vβ8+ T cells. These CD8+ T cells specifically lyse murine or human transfectants coexpressing Qa-1 and murine TCR Vβ8. Further, CD8+ T cell hybridoma clones generated from B10.PL mice vaccinated with a myelin basic protein-specific CD4+Vβ8+ T cell clone specifically recognize other CD4+ T cells and T cell tumors that express Vβ8 and the syngeneic Qa-1a but not the allogeneic Qa-1b molecule. Thus, Vβ-specific Qa-1-restricted CD8+ T cells are induced by activated CD4+ T cells. We suggest that these CD8+ T cells may function to specifically regulate activated CD4+ T cells during immune responses.
National Acad Sciences