Selective engraftment of memory CD4+ T cells with an unusual recirculation pattern and a diverse T cell receptor‐Vβ repertoire into scid mice

J Reimann, A Rudoiphi, T Tscherning… - European journal of …, 1993 - Wiley Online Library
J Reimann, A Rudoiphi, T Tscherning, MH Claesson
European journal of immunology, 1993Wiley Online Library
Abstract Young (H‐2d, Ld+) severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mice were injected
intravenously with 105 CD4+ CD8− T cells purified from spleen, thymus or lymph nodes (LN)
of dm2 (H‐2d, Ld) donor mice. In the immunodeficient recipients, the lymphoid compartment
in the splenic white pulp was repopulated with donor‐type T cells and cellularity in the red
pulp was increased. In addition, donor‐type CD4+ T cells repopulated the peritoneal cavity,
mesenteric LN and the lamina propria of the small intestine of scid mice, but were …
Abstract
Young (H‐2d, Ld+) severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mice were injected intravenously with 105 CD4+CD8 T cells purified from spleen, thymus or lymph nodes (LN) of dm2 (H‐2d, Ld ) donor mice. In the immunodeficient recipients, the lymphoid compartment in the splenic white pulp was repopulated with donor‐type T cells and cellularity in the red pulp was increased. In addition, donor‐type CD4+ T cells repopulated the peritoneal cavity, mesenteric LN and the lamina propria of the small intestine of scid mice, but were undetectable in thymus and peripheral (inguinal, axillary) LN. Histological examination of repopulated mesenteric LN showed expanded subcapsular sinuses, repopulated cortical areas, but poorly developed high endothelial venules (HEV) indicating deficient blood‐LN lymphocyte recirculation. The engrafted CD4+ T cell population had the surface phenotype of memory T cells (CD44/Pgp‐lhigh CD45RBlow) and expressed the Peyer's patch HEV‐specific homing receptor CD49d (LPAM‐1), but not the LN HEV‐specific homing receptor LECAM‐l. The CD4+ T cell population in spleen and mesenteric LN of transplanted scid mice displayed a diverse T cell receptor‐V(3 repertoire. Transfer of titrated numbers (103, 104, 105 cells per mouse) of CD4+ T cells into scid mice established donor‐type T cell populations with this unusual homing pattern in all recipients. Repeated serial transfers of dm2 CD4+ T cells through young scid mice revealed an extensive in vivo expansion potential of transferred cells for > 18 months. The experimental system described represents an in vivo model to study the functional competence and the differentiation potential of a murine memory CD4+ T cell subset.
Wiley Online Library