Memory phenotype cd4 t cells undergoing rapid, nonburst-like, cytokine-driven proliferation can be distinguished from antigen-experienced memory cells

Souheil Antoine Younes, George Punkosdy, Stephane Caucheteux, Tao Chen, Zvi Grossman, William E. Paul

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Memory phenotype (CD44 bright, CD25 negative) CD4 spleen and lymph node T cells (MP cells) proliferate rapidly in normal or germ-free donors, with BrdU uptake rates of 6% to 10% per day and Ki-67 positivity of 18% to 35%. The rapid proliferation of MP cells stands in contrast to the much slower proliferation of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)-specific memory cells that divide at rates ranging from &1% to 2% per day over the period from 15 to 60 days after LCMV infection. Anti-MHC class II antibodies fail to inhibit the in situ proliferation of MP cells, implying a non-T-cell receptor (TCR)-driven proliferation. Such proliferation is partially inhibited by anti-IL-7Rα antibody. The sequence diversity of TCRβ CDR3 gene segments is comparable among the proliferating and quiescent MP cells from conventional and germ-free mice, implying that the majority of proliferating MP cells have not recently derived from a small cohort of cells that expand through multiple continuous rounds of cell division. We propose that MP cells constitute a diverse cell population, containing a subpopulation of slowly dividing authentic antigen-primed memory cells and a majority population of rapidly proliferating cells that did not arise from naïve cells through conventional antigen-driven clonal expansion.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere1001171
JournalPLoS Biology
Volume9
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2011
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesZIAAI000926

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Memory phenotype cd4 t cells undergoing rapid, nonburst-like, cytokine-driven proliferation can be distinguished from antigen-experienced memory cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this