Regulation of thymocyte development through CD3. II. Expression of T cell receptor beta CD3 epsilon and maturation to the CD4+8+ stage are highly correlated in individual thymocytes

Recent studies have shown that maturation of CD4-8- double negative (DN) thymocytes to the CD4+8+ double positive (DP) stage is dependent on expression of the T cell receptor (TCR)-beta polypeptide. The exact mechanism by which the TCR-beta chain regulates this maturation step remains unknown. Previous experiments had suggested that in the presence of some TCR+ thymocytes, additional DN thymocytes not expressing a TCR-beta chain may be recruited to mature to the DP stage. The recent demonstration of an immature TCR-beta-CD3 complex on early thymocytes lead to the alternative hypothesis that signal transduction through an immature TCR-CD3 complex may induce maturation to the DP stage. In the latter case, maturation to the DP stage would depend on the expression of TCR-beta-CD3 in the same cell. We examined these two hypotheses by studying the expression of the intra- and extracellular CD3 epsilon, CD3 zeta, and TCR-beta polypeptides in intrathymic subpopulations during embryogenesis. CD3 epsilon and CD3 zeta were expressed intracellularly 2 and 1 d, respectively, before intracellular expression of the TCR-beta chain, potentially allowing immediate surface expression of an immature TCR-beta-CD3 complex as soon as functional rearrangement of a TCR-beta gene locus has been accomplished. Calcium mobilization could be induced by stimulation with anti-CD3 epsilon mAb as soon as intracellular TCR-beta was detectable, suggesting that a functional TCR-beta-CD3 complex is indeed expressed on the surface of early thymocytes. From day 17 on, most cells were in the DP stage, and over 95% of the DP cells expressed on the TCR-beta chain intracellularly. At day 19 of gestation, extremely low concentrations of TCR-beta chain and CD3 epsilon were detectable on the cell surface of nearly all thymocytes previously thought to be TCR-CD3 negative. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that maturation to the DP stage depends on surface expression of and subsequent signal transduction through an immature TCR-beta-CD3 complex and suggest that maturation to the DP stage by recruitment, if it occurs at all, is of minor relevance.     

Sublethal gamma-radiation induces differentiation of CD4-/CD8- into CD4+/CD8+ thymocytes without T cell receptor beta rearrangement in recombinase activation gene 2-/- mice

DNA recombination of the immunoglobulin (Ig) or T cell receptor (TCR) gene loci is an essential step in the production of lymphocytes bearing antigen-specific receptors. Mice that lack the ability to rearrange their Ig and TCR gene loci are devoid of mature B and T cells. Complete rearrangement and expression of the TCR-beta chain has been suggested to allow immature thymocytes to switch from the CD4-/CD8- to the CD4+/CD8+ stage of thymic development. Thus, thymocytes from severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice or mice deficient in recombinase activation genes (RAG), which do not undergo proper DNA rearrangement, are arrested at the early CD4-/CD8- stage of development. B cell precursors in SCID or RAG mice do not progress from the B220+/sIgM- /heat stable antigen (HSA)+/CD43+ to the B220+/sIgM-/HSA+/CD43- stage. In an attempt to reconstitute RAG-2-/- mice with bone marrow- or fetal liver-derived progenitor cells, we subjected these mice to sublethal doses of gamma-radiation. It is surprising that in the absence of donor cells, irradiated RAG-2-/- mice revealed a dramatic change in their lymphoid phenotype. 14 d after irradiation, the majority of thymocytes had advanced to the CD4+/CD8+ stage of T cell development and a small number of bone marrow precursors had progressed to the CD43-, HSAhi stage of B cell development. Analysis of the resulting CD4+/CD8+ thymocytes revealed no surface expression of the TCR/CD3 complex and no V-D-J rearrangement of the TCR-beta gene locus. Our findings provide evidence for a novel pathway that allows the transition of thymocytes from the CD4-/CD8- to the CD4+/CD8+ stage and that does not appear to require TCR-beta chain rearrangement.     

An intermediate cell in thymocyte differentiation that expresses CD8 but not CD4 antigen

Thymocytes of CD4-,CD8+,OX-44- phenotype have been shown to be an intermediate of thymopoiesis that give rise to cells of CD4+, CD8+, OX-44- normal cortical thymocyte phenotype both in vitro and in vivo during thymic regeneration.     

One naive T cell,multiple fates in CD8+ T cell differentiation

The mechanism by which the immune system produces effector and memory T cells is largely unclear. To allow a large-scale assessment of the development of single naive T cells into different subsets, we have developed a technology that introduces unique genetic tags (barcodes) into naive T cells. By comparing the barcodes present in antigen-specific effector and memory T cell populations in systemic and local infection models, at different anatomical sites, and for TCR–pMHC interactions of different avidities, we demonstrate that under all conditions tested, individual naive T cells yield both effector and memory CD8⁺ T cell progeny. This indicates that effector and memory fate decisions are not determined by the nature of the priming antigen-presenting cell or the time of T cell priming. Instead, for both low and high avidity T cells, individual naive T cells have multiple fates and can differentiate into effector and memory T cell subsets.Activation of naive antigen-specific T cells is characterized by a vigorous proliferative burst, resulting in the formation of a large pool of effector T cells. After pathogen clearance, ∼95% of activated T cells die, leaving behind a stable pool of long-lived memory cells (Williams and Bevan, 2007). Two fundamentally different mechanisms could give rise to the production of effector and memory T cells during an immune response. First, single naive T cells may be destined to produce either effector T cells or memory T cells, but not both (“one naive cell, one fate”). As an alternative, effector and memory T cells could derive from the same clonal precursors within the naive T cell pool (“one naive cell, multiple fates”). As the fate decisions that control T cell differentiation could either be taken during initial T cell priming (i.e., before the first cell division) or at later stages, at least four conceptually different models describing effector and memory T cell differentiation can be formulated (Fig. S1).A first model predicts a separate origin of effector and memory T cells as a result of differential T cell priming by APCs. In this scenario, fate decisions would be taken before the first cell division, and even though cells destined to become memory cells may transiently display traits associated with effector T cells (e.g., expression of granzyme B or IFN-γ; see the following paragraphs), their ability for long-term survival would be predetermined. In line with this model, several studies have provided evidence that the fate of CD8⁺ T cells may, to some extent, be programmed during initial activation (Kaech and Ahmed, 2001; van Stipdonk et al., 2003; Masopust et al., 2004; Williams and Bevan, 2007; Bannard et al., 2009).A second model, which relies on recent data from Chang et al. (2007), likewise suggests that the priming APC plays the crucial role in determining effector or memory T cell fate, but by a strikingly different mechanism and with an opposite prediction concerning the lineage relationship of effector and memory T cells. Specifically, analysis of T cell–APC conjugates has shown that the first division of activated T cells can be asymmetric, with the daughter T cell that is formed proximal to the APC being more likely to contribute to the effector T cell subset and the distal daughter T cell being more likely to generate memory T cells (Chang et al., 2007). Assuming that all primary daughter cells survive and yield further progeny, these data would predict that single naive T cells contribute to both the effector and the memory subset.In contrast to these two models that are based on a determining role of the priming APC, two other models predict that T cell fate is determined by the cumulative effect of signals that not only naive T cells but also their descendants receive. The first of these models, termed the “decreasing potential model,” argues that T cell progeny that receive additional stimulation after priming undergo terminal differentiation toward the effector subset, whereas descendants that do not encounter these signals may transiently display certain effector functions but will ultimately become memory T cells (Ahmed and Gray, 1996). In support of this model, it has been demonstrated that continued inflammatory signals (Badovinac et al., 2004; Joshi et al., 2007) and prolonged antigenic stimulation (Sarkar et al., 2008) can lead descendant CD8⁺ T cells to preferentially develop into effector cells.If the descendants of all individual naive T cells have an equal chance of receiving signals for terminal differentiation, the standard decreasing potential model predicts that memory and effector T cells will be derived from the same population of naive T cells. However, there is evidence that the environmental factors that promote either terminal differentiation or memory T cell development may alter over the course of infection (Sarkar et al., 2008). A fourth model therefore argues that the progeny of T cells that are activated early or late during infection will receive distinct signals and, hence, assume (partially) different fates (van Faassen et al., 2005; D’Souza and Hedrick, 2006; Quigley et al., 2007; Stemberger et al., 2007a).A large number of studies in which cell differentiation was analyzed at the population level have been informative in revealing which effector properties can be displayed by T cells that subsequently differentiate into memory T cells (for review see Jameson and Masopust, 2009). In particular, two recent studies using IFN-γ or granzyme B reporter mice have shown that memory T cells can arise from cells that have previously transcribed IFN-γ or granzyme B genes (Harrington et al., 2008; Bannard et al., 2009). However, it is important to realize that these studies reveal little with regard to the developmental potential of individual naive T cells. Specifically, the fact that T cells that have a particular effector capacity can become memory T cells does not indicate that all naive T cells yield such effector cells, nor does it indicate that all memory T cells have gone through an effector phase.To determine the developmental potential of naive T cells, it is essential to develop technologies in which T cell responses can be analyzed at the single naive T cell level. In early work that aimed to follow T cell responses at the clonal level, TCR repertoire analysis has been used to assess the kinship of T cell populations (Maryanski et al., 1996; Kedzierska et al., 2004). However, as several naive T cell clones can share the same TCR, it has been argued that such analyses do not necessarily monitor T cell fate at the single T cell level (Stemberger et al., 2007b; Obar et al., 2008). Recently, Stemberger et al. (2007a) have reported on a more elegant approach to address naive T cell potency. Using the transfer of single naive CD8⁺ T cells into mice, this study provides direct evidence that a single naive CD8⁺ T cell can form both effector and memory cell subsets. However, the statistical power of single-cell transfer studies obviously has limitations. In addition, if homeostatic proliferation would occur before antigen-driven proliferation in this system, this would limit the conclusions that can be drawn with regard to the pluripotency of a single naive T cell.In this study, we have developed a technology that allows the generation of naive T cells that carry unique genetic tags (barcodes), and we describe how this technology can be used for the large-scale assessment of the developmental potential of single naive T cells. Using physiological frequencies of barcode-labeled naive CD8⁺ T cells of different functional avidities, we demonstrate that in both systemic and local infection models, effector and memory CD8⁺ T cell subsets share the same precursors in the naive T cell pool. These data demonstrate that under all conditions analyzed, single naive T cells do not selectively yield effector or memory T cells. Rather, T cell differentiation into effector and memory T cell subsets occurs by a one naive cell, multiple fates principle.     

Long-lasting CD8 T cell memory in the absence of CD4 T cells or B cells

The cellular basis of immunological memory has been a debated issue. It is not clear whether CD8 T cell memory is maintained by long-lived cells or by specific or nonspecific restimulation. Here, we have approached the question from a different angle, asking whether the cellular interactions that are required to maintain memory are the same as those necessary to activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes. We studied the CD8 memory response to the male antigen H-Y in mice deficient in CD4 cells, or B cells and found that memory in these mice was virtually unimpaired. These results suggest that CD8 memory is CD4 independent and that there is no requirement for long term retention of immune complexes on follicular dendritic cells, nor for B cells as antigen- presenting cells.     

Regulatory CD4+CD25+ T cells restrict memory CD8+ T cell responses

CD4+ T cell help is important for the generation of CD8+ T cell responses. We used depleting anti-CD4 mAb to analyze the role of CD4+ T cells for memory CD8+ T cell responses after secondary infection of mice with the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, or after boost immunization by specific peptide or DNA vaccination. Surprisingly, anti-CD4 mAb treatment during secondary CD8+ T cell responses markedly enlarged the population size of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. After boost immunization with peptide or DNA, this effect was particularly profound, and antigen-specific CD8+ T cell populations were enlarged at least 10-fold. In terms of cytokine production and cytotoxicity, the enlarged CD8+ T cell population consisted of functional effector T cells. In depletion and transfer experiments, the suppressive function could be ascribed to CD4+CD25+ T cells. Our results demonstrate that CD4+ T cells control the CD8+ T cell response in two directions. Initially, they promote the generation of a CD8+ T cell responses and later they restrain the strength of the CD8+ T cell memory response. Down-modulation of CD8+ T cell responses during infection could prevent harmful consequences after eradication of the pathogen.     

Extent of T cell receptor ligation can determine the functional differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells

Naive CD4+ T cells can differentiate into cells predominantly involved in humoral immunity, known as T helper type 2 cells (Th2), or cells involved in cell-mediated immunity, known as Th1 cells. In this report, we show that priming of CD4+ T cells bearing a transgene-encoded T cell receptor can lead to differentiation into Th1-like cells producing abundant interferon gamma when the cells are exposed to high antigen doses, while low doses of the same peptide induce cells with the same T cell receptor to differentiate into Th2-like cells producing abundant interleukin 4. Thus antigen dose is one factor that can control the differentiation fate of a naive CD4+ T cell.     

Development of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes in RAG-deficient mice through a T cell receptor beta chain-independent pathway

Antigen-binding diversity is generated by site-specific V(D)J recombination of the T cell receptor (TCR) and immunoglobulin loci in lymphocyte precursors. Coordinate expression of two structurally distinct recombinase activating genes, RAG-1 and RAG-2, is necessary for activation of site-specific V(D)J recombination. In mice bearing targeted disruptions of either the RAG-1 or RAG-2 genes, T and B lymphocyte development is arrested at the CD4-8- double negative (DN) thymocyte or B220+/CD43+ pro-B cell stage. Development of CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocytes is restored by expression of a functionally rearranged TCR beta transgene, suggesting that TCR beta expression is critical for this developmental transition. We have found that treatment of adult or newborn RAG-deficient mice with a single sublethal dose of gamma-irradiation rescues the DN to DP transition in early thymocytes, and this is accompanied by a dramatic increase in thymus cellularity. In contrast to the observed induction of thymocyte maturation, there was no phenotypic or functional evidence of coincident B lymphocyte development in irradiated RAG-deficient mice. Interestingly, maturation of DP thymocytes occurred without expression of TCR beta protein in the cytoplasm or on the cell surface. These results suggest an in vivo pathway for DP thymocyte development which is TCR beta chain independent.     

CD4+CD25+ T cells regulate virus-specific primary and memory CD8+ T cell responses

Naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells appear important to prevent activation of autoreactive T cells. This article demonstrates that the magnitude of a CD8+ T cell-mediated immune response to an acute viral infection is also subject to control by CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells (Treg). Accordingly, if natural Treg were depleted with specific anti-CD25 antibody before infection with HSV, the resultant CD8+ T cell response to the immunodominant peptide SSIEFARL was significantly enhanced. This was shown by several in vitro measures of CD8+ T cell reactivity and by assays that directly determine CD8+ T cell function, such as proliferation and cytotoxicity in vivo. The enhanced responsiveness in CD25-depleted animals was between three- and fourfold with the effect evident both in the acute and memory phases of the immune response. Surprisingly, HSV infection resulted in enhanced Treg function with such cells able to suppress CD8+ T cell responses to both viral and unrelated antigens. Our results are discussed both in term of how viral infection might temporarily diminish immunity to other infectious agents and their application to vaccines. Thus, controlling suppressor effects at the time of vaccination could result in more effective immunity.     

CD45-null transgenic mice reveal a positive regulatory role for CD45 in early thymocyte development, in the selection of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, and B cell maturation

The CD45 transmembrane glycoprotein has been shown to be a protein phosphotyrosine phosphatase and to be important in signal transduction in T and B lymphocytes. We have employed gene targeting to create a strain of transgenic mice that completely lacks expression of all isoforms of CD45. The spleens from CD45-null mice contain approximately twice the number of B cells and one fifth the number of T cells found in normal controls. The increase in B cell numbers is due to the specific expansion of two B cell subpopulations that express high levels of immunoglobulin (IgM) staining. T cell development is significantly inhibited in CD45-null animals at two distinct stages. The efficiency of the development of CD4-CD8- thymocytes into CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes is reduced by twofold, subsequently the frequency of successful maturation of the double positive population into mature, single positive thymocytes is reduced by a further four- to fivefold. In addition, we demonstrate that CD45-null thymocytes are severely impaired in their apoptotic response to cross-linking signals via T cell receptor (TCR) in fetal thymic organ culture. In contrast, apoptosis can be induced normally in CD45-null thymocytes by non-TCR- mediated signals. Since both positive and negative selection require signals through the TCR complex, these findings suggest that CD45 is an important regulator of signal transduction via the TCR complex at multiple stages of T cell development. CD45 is absolutely required for the transmission of mitogenic signals via IgM and IgD. By contrast, CD45-null B cells proliferate as well as wild-type cells to CD40- mediated signals. The proliferation of B cells in response to CD38 cross-linking is significantly reduced but not abolished by the CD45- null mutation. We conclude that CD45 is not required at any stage during the generation of mature peripheral B cells, however its loss reveals a previously unrecognized role for CD45 in the regulation of certain subpopulations of B cells.     

Role of CD4 in thymocyte selection and maturation

We examined the possible role of CD4 molecules during in vivo and in vitro fetal thymic development. Our results show that fetal thymi treated with intact anti-CD4 mAbs fail to generate CD4 single-positive T cells, while the generation of the other phenotypes remains unchanged. Most importantly, the use of F(ab')2 and Fab anti-CD4 mAb gave identical results, i.e., failure to generate CD4+/CD8- T cells, with no effect on the generation of CD4+/CD8+ T cells. Since F(ab')2 and Fab anti-CD4 fail to deplete CD4+/CD8- in adult mice, these results strongly argue that the absence of CD4+/CD8- T cells is not due to depletion, but rather, is caused by a lack of positive selection, attributable to an obstructed CD4-MHC class II interaction. Furthermore, we also observed an increase in TCR/CD3 expression after anti-CD4 (divalent or monovalent) mAb treatment. The TCR/CD3 upregulation occurs in the double-positive population, and may result from CD4 signaling after mAb engagement, or may be a consequence of the blocked CD4-class II interactions. One proposed model argues that the CD3 upregulation occurs in an effort to compensate for the reduction in avidity or signaling that is normally provided by the interaction of the CD4 accessory molecule and its ligand. As a whole, our findings advocate that CD4 molecules play a decisive role in the differentiation of thymocytes.     

SARS患者外周血CD4+CD8+T淋巴细胞的变化

目的 观察严重急性呼吸综合征(severe acute respiratory syndrome，SARS)患者外周血CD4^ 和CD8^ T淋巴细胞的变化，探讨SARS患者机体的免疫状况。方法 10位健康人(对照组)和13例确诊为SARS患者于发病第1、2、3、4周采静脉血，用流式细胞仪检测CD4^ 、CD8^ T淋巴细胞。结果 与对照组比较，SARS患者从发病1至4周外周血CD4^ 、CD8^ T淋巴细胞百分比均有不同程度的降低，以病程发展的2周左右为最明显。结论 SARS患者外周血CD4^ 、CD8^ T淋巴细胞有不同程度的降低，机体呈异常的免疫反应。     

Cytotoxicity of fresh NK1.1+ T cell receptor alpha/beta+ thymocytes against a CD4+8+ thymocyte population associated with intact Fas antigen expression on the target

Recent studies have revealed that 10-20% of CD4+8- or CD4-8- thymocyte populations contain NK1.1+ T cell receptor (TCR)-alpha/beta+ cells. This subpopulation shows characteristics that are different from NK1.1- CD4+ or NK1.1- CD8+ T cells and seems to have developed in a manner different from NK1.1- T cells. Although extensive studies have been performed on the NK1.1+ TCR-alpha/beta+ thymocytes, the physiological role of the NK1.1+ TCR-alpha/beta+ thymocytes has been totally unclear. In the present study, we found that freshly isolated NK1.1+ TCR- alpha/beta+ thymocytes, but neither whole thymocytes nor lymph node T cells, directly killed CD4+8+ thymocytes from normal syngeneic or allogeneic mice by using a long-term cytotoxic assay in which flow cytometry was used to detect the cytotoxicity. However, only weak cytotoxicity was detected against thymocytes from lpr mice on which the Fas antigen that transduces signals for apoptosis into the cells is not expressed. Furthermore, the NK1.1+ TCR-alpha/beta+ thymocytes exhibited high cytotoxicity against T lymphoma targets transfected with fas genes as compared with the parental T lymphoma targets or target cells transfected with mutated fas genes, which lack the function of transducing signals. On the other hand, NK1.1+ effector thymocytes from gld mice that carry a point mutation in Fas ligand did not kill thymocyte targets from normal mice. The present findings, thus, consistently suggest that the NK1.1+ TCR-alpha/beta+ thymocytes kill a subpopulation among CD4+8+ thymocytes via Fas antigen and in this way regulate generation of T lineage cells in the thymus.     

供体凋亡淋巴细胞预输注对猪肝移植受体CD4+T、CD8+T、CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞的影响

背景:凋亡细胞能够主动调节机体的免疫功能,并能通过调节机体细胞免疫和体液免疫的途径诱导免疫耐受,但这些结果只在大鼠肝脏移植模型中证实.目的:探讨通过60Co γ射线体外处理后的供体淋巴细胞预输注诱导猪肝移植特异性免疫耐受的作用中,对淋巴细胞亚群的影响.方法:建立非转流小型猪原位肝移植模型.将受体猪随机摸球法均分为2 组:空白对照组,受体猪无特殊处理,行肝移植;淋巴细胞组:受体猪在肝移植前7 d 经耳静脉注射60Co γ射线处理过的5×108 个供体淋巴细胞.观察两组受体猪移植后的存活时间,移植后T 淋巴细胞亚型CD4+T、CD8+T、CD4+CD25+Tr 变化及病理.结果与结论:移植后3 d,两组病理活检均呈急性中、重度排斥反应;移植后6 d,两组均呈急性重度排斥反应.移植后1,3,6 d CD4+T、CD8+T、CD4+CD25+Tr 升降趋势,两组间差异无显著意义(P ＞ 0.05).提示,60Co γ射线体外处理过的淋巴细胞预输注未能够诱导猪同种异体肝移植特异性免疫耐受,未能引起T 淋巴细胞亚群变化有关.     

Differentiation of Ia-reactive CD8+ murine T cells does not require Ia engagement. Implications for the role of CD4 and CD8 accessory molecules in T cell differentiation

The present study was undertaken to assess the Ia differentiation requirements of CD8+ class II-allospecific CTL, whose CD8+ phenotype is apparently "discordant" with their MHC class II reactivity. To do so, we compared the effect of in vivo anti-Ia blockade on the differentiation of Ia-reactive CD8+ CTL with its effect on the differentiation of CD4+ T cells. We found that anti-Ia blockade did not detectably interfere with the differentiation of CD8+ Ia-reactive CTL, even though it arrested the differentiation of CD4+ T cells. Thus, the differentiation of CD4+ T cells is strictly dependent upon Ia engagement, whereas the differentiation of CD8+ T cells, even those with reactivity against MHC class II alloantigens, does not require Ia engagement. These results support the concept that Ia-reactive CD8+ T cells are conventional CD8+ CTL, probably selected by self-class I MHC molecules during differentiation, whose receptors fortuitously crossreact on MHC class II alloantigens. Taken together, the present data indicate an intimate relationship between CD4/CD8 expression with MHC class specificity during T cell differentiation and selection. We suggest that an active triggering role for CD4 and CD8 accessory molecules in T cell differentiation is best able to explain these observations.     

mTORC1 and mTORC2 selectively regulate CD8+ T cell differentiation

Activation of mTOR-dependent pathways regulates the specification and differentiation of CD4⁺ T effector cell subsets. Herein, we show that mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTORC2 have distinct roles in the generation of CD8⁺ T cell effector and memory populations. Evaluation of mice with a T cell–specific deletion of the gene encoding the negative regulator of mTORC1, tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2), resulted in the generation of highly glycolytic and potent effector CD8⁺ T cells; however, due to constitutive mTORC1 activation, these cells retained a terminally differentiated effector phenotype and were incapable of transitioning into a memory state. In contrast, CD8⁺ T cells deficient in mTORC1 activity due to loss of RAS homolog enriched in brain (RHEB) failed to differentiate into effector cells but retained memory characteristics, such as surface marker expression, a lower metabolic rate, and increased longevity. However, these RHEB-deficient memory-like T cells failed to generate recall responses as the result of metabolic defects. While mTORC1 influenced CD8⁺ T cell effector responses, mTORC2 activity regulated CD8⁺ T cell memory. mTORC2 inhibition resulted in metabolic reprogramming, which enhanced the generation of CD8⁺ memory cells. Overall, these results define specific roles for mTORC1 and mTORC2 that link metabolism and CD8⁺ T cell effector and memory generation and suggest that these functions have the potential to be targeted for enhancing vaccine efficacy and antitumor immunity.     

The kinetics of T cell antigen receptor expression by subgroups of CD4+8+ thymocytes: delineation of CD4+8+3(2+) thymocytes as post- selection intermediates leading to mature T cells

Cortical thymocytes from adult mice, separated on the basis of coexpression of CD4 and CD8 or of binding of high levels of peanut agglutinin (PNA), were subdivided according to the level of expression of the T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex. The incidence of dividing cells in the resultant subpopulations was determined by DNA staining. Precursor-product relationships and the timing of TCR-CD3 acquisition were studied using continuous in vivo [3H]TdR labeling and radioautography. The extent of intrathymic selection for TCR specificity in the subpopulations was determined from the incidence of cells bearing V beta 6 or V beta 17a in different mouse strains. The majority of dividing CD4+8+ blast cells expressed extremely low levels of TCR-CD3, indicating that TCR expression and specificity selection generally occurred after division ceased. The [3H]TdR-labeling studies indicated that postdivision TCR expression was rapid, and that those nondividing cortical thymocytes which had not expressed significant levels of TCR by day 1, remained extremely low or negative for their entire 3.6-d lifespan. Small cortical thymocytes which expressed moderate levels of TCR-CD3, were predominantly an unselected population with a lifespan of 3.8 d. A small subgroup of CD4+8+ PNA+ cortical thymocytes expressing high levels of TCR-CD3 was identified as a nondividing intermediate between the small cortical thymocytes expressing moderate levels of TCR and mature medullary thymocytes. These intermediates showed a 1-d lag in [3H]TdR labeling, then a 3.4-d transit time. The cell flux through this intermediate subpopulation was approximately 10(6) cells/d, similar to the rate of turnover of mature thymocytes; thus, although only 3-4% of thymocytes progressed to this intermediate state, once reaching it most then progressed to full maturity. In accordance with this, the incidence of the V beta selection markers within the intermediate subpopulation indicated that both positive and negative selection had already occurred. Selection for TCR specificity in the systems studied appeared to take place among CD4+8+ thymocytes expressing intermediate levels of TCR.     

CD4+CD25+和CD8+调节性T细胞的作用机制

调节性T细胞（Treg）主要在机体免疫系统中发挥负向调节作用,既能抑制不恰当的免疫反应,又能限定免疫应答的范围、程度及作用时间,对CD4^＋和CD8^＋效应性T淋巴细胞的增殖起抑制作用,因此在移植物抗宿主病、自身免疫病、过敏性疾病等的发病机制和临床治疗中有潜在的应用价值.本文重点介绍CD4^＋CD25^＋Treg和CD8^＋Treg的作用机制,并简述调节性T细胞研究面临的挑战与展望.