胞壁型rBCG经口服免疫可以诱导BALB/c小鼠产生抗原特异性TH1应答

目的观察胞壁型重组BCG(rBCG)经口服接种后对BALB/c小鼠TH细胞免疫应答的影响。方法以100 ml/L甘油为对照,分别将BCG和以膜蛋白形式表达屋尘螨抗原Der D2的rBCG经口服接种于8周龄BALB/c小鼠,109 CFU/d,连续5 d,用夹心ELISA测定小鼠血清、脾脏T淋巴细胞培养上清(SCS)和肠道相关淋巴细胞培养上清(Gcs)中IL-4、IFN-Υ水平,用双色荧光标记-流式细胞术测定脾脏淋巴细胞(SLC)和肠道相关淋巴细胞(GLC)中TH细胞亚群。结果免疫4周后,ELISA结果表明:BCG和。rBCG两组血清和SCS的IFN-Υ水平较对照组升高,IL-4水平降低;但两组小鼠GCS仅见IFN-Υ水平升高。流式细胞测定结果表明:在CD4 的SLC中,BCG和rBCG免疫小鼠的IL-12Rβ2 细胞比例升高,而CD30 细胞比例降低;在CD4 的GLC中,BCG和rBCG免疫小鼠的IFN-Υ 细胞比例升高;至免疫后8周,上述改变进一步明显,但BCG和rBCG两组之间差异无统计学意义。体外给予抗原刺激后,rBCG组小鼠变化更加显著,而BCG组则无明显改变。但GCS的IL-4水平始终无法测得;同时GLC中IL-5 细胞比例仍持续较低。结论无论rBCG还是BCG通过口服免疫,均可诱导BALB/c小鼠产生TH1优势免疫应答;而胞壁型Der p2-rBCG诱导产生的TH1优势应答具有Der p2抗原特异(记忆)性。     

HCV多表位基因重组BCG的筛选及对其诱导的免疫应答研究

目的将丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）多表位基因的穿梭质粒pDE22-CtEm电转化BCG，筛选重组BCG（rBCG），免疫BALB／c小鼠，研究其诱导的免疫应答。方法培养并制备BCG感受态，将重组穿梭质粒pDE22-CtEm电转化BCG，筛选rBCG。rBCG免疫小鼠，同时进行基因免疫，测定血清中特异性抗体，分离小鼠脾淋巴细胞，体外测定淋巴细胞刺激指数、IFN-γ和进行CTL杀伤实验，观察rBCG在小鼠体内诱导的体液和细胞免疫应答。结果筛选出HCV多表位基因rBCG，免疫小鼠后在小鼠体内诱导出特异性的体液和细胞免疫应答，免疫应答水平均高于重组的基因免疫。结论构建的HCV多表位抗原rBCG活疫苗优于基因疫苗。     

Der p2重组BCG诱导适应性CD4+CD25+ Treg产生并下调小鼠变应性气道炎症反应

目的： 卡介苗（BCG）是广泛应用的Th1应答诱导疫苗。近年来的几项研究认为分支杆菌疫苗可作为免疫佐剂诱导生成调节性T细胞并抑制哮喘气道炎症。我们前期构建了胞壁表达屋尘螨抗原Der p2的重组BCG疫苗（Der p2 rBCG）。本研究的目的是阐明Der p2 rBCG的免疫调节机制。方法：小鼠分别给予生理盐水、BCG、Der p2 rBCG免疫后,观察脾细胞中相关调节性T细胞亚群的相对比例和绝对数量。体外及在体观察Der p2 rBCG诱导产生的CD4+CD25+ Treg的抑制功能。结果：(1)Der p2 rBCG可以诱导CD4+CD25+ Treg的产生;(2)Der p2 rBCG诱导产生的CD4+CD25+ T细胞可以在体外以变应原特异的方式抑制效应CD4+T细胞的增殖;(3)Der p2 rBCG诱导产生的CD4+CD25+ T细胞可以在体内下调Der p2诱导的小鼠变应性气道炎症。结论：Der p2 rBCG可以诱导适应性CD4+CD25+ Treg的产生,并通过其介导的免疫抑制作用下调小鼠变应性气道炎症反应。     

IL-12+重组卡介苗对新生期小鼠脾脏T细胞功能亚群发育的影响

目的:研究IL-12 重组BCG新生期接种对小鼠脾脏T细胞功能亚群发育的影响.方法:新生清洁级BALB/c小鼠24只,分对照组、BCG组和IL-12 重组BCG组.新生期接种,4周后取脾细胞用流式细胞术检测CD3 CD8 IFN-γ 、CD3 CD8-IFN-γ 、CD3 CD8 IL-4 、CD3 CD8-IL-4 、CD4 Foxp3 T细胞的比例,其分别代表Tc1、Th1、Tc2、Th2和调节性T细胞亚群.结果:BCG组、IL-12 重组BCG组Th1、Tc1细胞比例明显高于对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01),BCG组与IL-12 重组BCG组比较没有统计学意义;Tc2、Th2和调节性T细胞比例各组间比较没有统计学意义;二接种组Th1/Th2、Tc1/Tc2和总IFN-γ/IL-4比值明显高于对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01);CD4 Foxp3 T细胞比例各组间比较没有统计学意义(P>0.05).结论:新生期BCG和IL-12 重组BCG接种组接种均能促进Th1、Tc1细胞亚群的发育,提高Th1/Th2、Tc1/Tc2比值,但不能影响CD4 FoxP3 Treg细胞的比例.     

SARS-CoV S DNA疫苗诱导特异性T细胞及相关细胞因子的特性研究

目的 小鼠经皮下SARS-CoV S DNA疫苗免疫后，研究其特异性T细胞及相关细胞因子的特性。方法SARS-CoV S DNA疫苗免疫BALB／c小鼠后，获取淋巴细胞悬液。经S抗原多肽刺激后，采用ELISA检测细胞培养上清液中IFN-γ／的水平，利用流式细胞仪在单个细胞水平上检测IFN-γ和IL-2的表达及其关系。结果 当S混合多肽刺激后，DNA疫苗免疫小鼠的淋巴细胞产生大量的IFN-γ，与对照鼠相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。细胞亚群分析的结果表明，IFN-γ^＋和IL-2^＋的CD4^＋T细胞百分率明显高于CD8^＋T细胞。单独产生IL-2的细胞占大多数，其次为IFN-γ和IL-2双阳性细胞，只产生IFN-γ的细胞很少。结论 SARS-CoV S DNA疫苗免疫小鼠后可以诱导抗原特异性CD4^＋和CD8^＋T细胞的产生。     

多房棘球绦虫混合重组BCG-EmⅡ/3和BCG-Em14-3-3疫苗诱导小鼠脾细胞因子的变化

目的：探讨多房棘球绦虫混合重组BCG—EmII／3和BCG—Eml4—3—3疫苗免疫后再以Em原头节攻击后小鼠脾细胞因子的变化。方法：将疫苗采用皮下注射和鼻腔内接种分别免疫BALB／c小鼠后8周，用多房棘球绦虫原头节进行攻击感染。感染后18周杀鼠取脾，分离脾细胞，用EmAg或ConA刺激培养，并收集脾细胞培养上清液，用试剂盒检测脾细胞培养上清液中IL-2、IFN—γ、TNF—α和IL-4的水平，同时设有空载体、BCG和PBS对照。结果-疫苗接种组的IFN—γ和TNF—α水平升高，IL-4水平降低；皮下注射组的TNF—α水平高于鼻腔内接种组。结论-多房棘球绦虫混合重组BCG—EmⅡ／3和BCG—Eml4—3—3疫苗可诱导小鼠产生Th1型细胞应答，抵抗Em原头节的攻击感染。疫苗皮下注射途径优于鼻腔内接种。     

结核菌H37Ra在小鼠体内诱导的免疫应答及其保护力

目的:研究结核菌H37Ra免疫小鼠后产生的特异性免疫应答以及保护效果.方法:BALB/c小鼠随机分为H37Ra组、BCG组和生理盐水(NS)组,免疫8周后处死部分小鼠,取脾淋巴细胞经体外培养、PPD刺激后,MTT法检测淋巴细胞的刺激指数,ELISA法检测培养上清液中IFN-γ和IL-4水平.另一部分免疫小鼠经腹腔感染结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis,MTB)毒株H37Rv,4周后处死,测定小鼠脏器重量指数.取稀释的小鼠脾脏和肺脏匀浆接种于改良罗氏培养基,培养21天后计数脏器荷菌量.结果:H37Ra和BCG免疫小鼠脾淋巴细胞刺激指数、IFN-γ和IL-4水平均显著高于NS对照组.感染4周后H37Ra和BCG组小鼠脏器重量指数较NS对照组均显著降低.H37Ra组小鼠脾脏和肺脏荷菌量与NS对照组比较分别下降了1.228log10CFU和0.954log10CFU,差异有显著性(P<0.05),与BCG组之间差异均无显著性.结论:H37Ra免疫小鼠后可以诱导产生Th1型免疫应答,能够抵抗毒株H37Rv的攻击,且免疫效果与BCG相当.     

CpG ODN对rHBsAg免疫小鼠Th1/Th2型免疫应答的影响

目的：初步探讨CpC寡脱氧核苷酸(CpG ODN)与重组乙型肝炎表面抗原(rHBsAg)联合免疫小鼠的Th1／Th2型免疫应答效应。方法：BALB／c小鼠经后腿胫骨前肌免疫2次，ELISA法检测血清乙型肝炎表面抗体(抗-HBs)IgG亚类IgG2a/IgG1的比值；生物活性法检测脾细胞诱生上清中的IFN-γ和IL-2含量；ABC-ELISA法检测小鼠血清中IL-4、IL-10及IL-12含量。结果：加CpG ODN组与单独注射rHBsAg组相比：抗-HBs IgG亚类IgG2a／IgG1比值明显高；Th1型细胞因子IFN-γ和IL-2的表达增强，抑制Th2型细胞因子IL-4和IL-10的产生。结论：CpCODN能够明显增强rHBsAg免疫小鼠Th1型抗体亚类IgG2a的产生，并且诱导Th1型细胞因子的表达，抑制Th2型细胞因子的表达。     

八肽胆囊收缩素对经钥孔戚血蓝蛋白免疫小鼠T淋巴细胞亚群的影响

目的：探讨八肽胆囊收缩素（CCK-8）对经钥孔戚血蓝蛋白（KLH）免疫小鼠T淋巴细胞亚群的影响。方法：雌性BALB/c小鼠KLH免疫同时分别给予不同剂量CCK-8。流式细胞法检测小鼠外周血及脾细胞中CD4+、CD8+T细胞阳性百分率；RT-PCR法检测脾细胞中Th1型细胞因子IFN-γ、Th2型细胞因子IL-4 mRNA表达；ELISA法检测其培养上清中IFN-γ、IL-4水平；HE染色观察小鼠肺组织病理变化。结果：CCK-8下调KLH免疫小鼠外周血及脾细胞中上升的CD4+、CD8+T细胞阳性百分率，降低CD4+/CD8+比值；进一步提高其IFN-γ mRNA表达和培养上清中IFN-γ分泌量，同时下调上升的IL-4 mRNA表达和培养上清中IL-4分泌量；减轻KLH免疫所致小鼠肺部炎症。结论：CCK-8可调节适应性免疫应答，抑制T细胞尤其是CD4+T细胞活性；抑制Th2功能，提高Th1功能，因此可能在变态反应性疾病的发病和防治中具有一定作用。     

创伤弧菌感染BALB/c小鼠诱导适应性免疫应答的研究

为探讨创伤弧菌感染BALB/c小鼠后引起的适应性免疫应答类型及规律,我们首先通过半数致死量实验筛选创伤弧菌MO6-24/O腹腔注射感染菌量,随后通过流式细胞术检测创伤弧菌感染后小鼠脾脏Th细胞亚群应答情况,通过ELISA实验检测血清中IFN-γ浓度,采用real-time PCR检测创伤弧菌感染小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞后Th1细胞调控因子的表达。最后,采用流式细胞术动态检测Th1细胞亚群应答规律。结果显示,创伤弧菌MO6-24/O腹腔注射感染小鼠的半数致死量是2.5×105cfu,平均存活时间是16h,我们后续实验选择感染菌量为5×104cfu/只。创伤弧菌感染后能够诱导Th1型细胞应答,并且感染后血清中IFN-γ浓度显著增加(P0.05),并且创伤弧菌体外感染小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞后能够引起IL-12/IL-23p40、IL-12p35以及IFN-γmRNA表达显著增高(P0.05)。最后,流式结果显示,创伤弧菌感染后,脾脏Th1细胞的应答逐渐增强,在感染后3天达到高峰,随后逐渐下降到正常水平。因此,Th1型应答是创伤弧菌诱导的获得性免疫应答的主要类型。     

Staphylococcal enterotoxin A induced interferon (IFN)-gamma production in spleen cells from BCG-immunized mice: the IFN production is dependent on leukotriene C4 but not dependent on interleukin 2

In our previous paper, we showed that IFN was induced in sera by injection of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunized C57BL/6 (B6) mice. In analyzing the phenomenon in vitro, we showed that SEA induced IFN-gamma in the supernatant of the spleen cell culture from BCG immunized B6 mice and that leukotriene C4 (LTC4) from BCG activated macrophages in the spleen was involved in the IFN production from Ly 1+ T cells. On the other hand, interleukin-2 (IL-2) has reported to play an important role in the regulation of synthesis of IFN-gamma by T cells. In the present study, we examined whether IL-2 is involved in SEA-induced IFN production. The result showed that the SEA-induced IFN-gamma production was observed in spite of suppression of SEA-induced IL-2 production in spleen cells from BCG-immunized B6 mice. On the contrary, the depressed IFN production was observed in spite of high SEA-induced IL-2 production in spleen cells from their control mice. On the other hand, LTC4 production was 8 times higher in spleen cells from BCG-immunized B6 mice, high producer of SEA-induced IFN, than in that from BCG-immunized C3H mice, the low producer. We also observed that the IFN and the LTC4 production of spleen cells from BCG-immunized B6 mice was suppressed in the presence of caffeic acid and nordihydroguaiaretic acid, non-specific lipoxygenase inhibitors, and that LTC4 augmented the IFN production of normal B6 mouse spleen cells in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. Therefore, involvement of LTC4 rather than of IL-2 was supported in our experimental system.     

BCG对哮喘小鼠气道炎症反应的影响

目的：探讨卡介苗(BCG)对卯蛋白(OVA)致敏小鼠肺组织中T细胞的在体调节及其对气道炎症的作用。方法：将30只BALB／c小鼠分为3组，第1组吸入雾化的OVA(1次／(1．20min／次，连续10d)，建立致敏模型。第2组(对照)吸入雾化的生理盐水(时间和次数同第1组)；第3组(治疗组)于致敏前10d及14d，各皮内注射BCG 1次，致敏后6d吸入雾化的纯蛋白衍生物(PPD)。用SABC免疫组化法，检测肺组织中CD4^ 、CD8^ 及IFN—γ^ 细胞的变化，以及肺组织和支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中炎性细咆的变化。结果：OVA致敏组小鼠肺组织中CD4^ T细胞增加，CD8^ T细胞无明显变化，主要表现为IFN—γ^-／CD4^ T细胞数的增加，IFN—γ^ ／CD4^ 细胞的比例降低。BCG治疗后，肺组织中CD4^ T细胞减少，CD8^ T细胞数大量增加；IFN—γ^ ／CD4^ 细胞的比例明显增大；BALF中炎性细胞数减少。结论：BCG可在体上调Th1细胞，减轻实验性哮喘动物气道的炎症反应。     

IL-2-secreting recombinant bacillus Calmette Guerin can overcome a Type 2 immune response and corticosteroid-induced immunosuppression to elicit a Type 1 immune response

The efficacy of bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) as a vaccine against tuberculosis is adversely affected by both genetic and environmental factors on the immune system. In this study we have demonstrated that a recombinant BCG (rBCG) secreting biologically active IL-2 has the ability to induce a T(h)1 profile in both immunocompromised and in IL-4 transgenic (Tg) mice. Dexamethasone (DXM) was administered orally to mice prior to vaccination with either rBCG or normal BCG (nBCG). Six weeks post-vaccination with rBCG, splenocytes from DXM-treated mice exhibited a strong antigen-specific proliferative response, while also secreting large amounts of IFN-gamma and low levels of IgG1. The opposite profile occurred when DXM-treated mice were vaccinated with nBCG. Splenocytes from these mice showed no significant proliferation and produced a cytokine profile associated with a T(h)2 immune response, in addition to exhibiting high levels of serum IgG1. In the IL-4 Tg model, mice vaccinated with rBCG again produced a strong T(h)1 immune response, exhibiting a high antigen-specific IFN-gamma:IL-4 ratio and a concomitantly high IgG2a:IgG1 ratio. IL-4 Tg mice vaccinated with nBCG produced the opposite profile. These findings suggest that BCG can be made more robust by incorporating immunopotentiating cytokines into the vaccine.     

Skewing of the Th1/Th2 responses in mice due to variation in the level of expression of an antigen in a recombinant BCG system

In spite of rapid developments in the study of mycobacteria during the last two decades, tuberculosis (TB) has maintained its status as the leading killer among all infectious diseases. Extensive evidence exists to support a central role for a T-helper type 1 (Th1) immune response for protection against TB in mice and humans. Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the only vaccine against TB, although not perfect in its ability to protect against the adult form of TB, is a strong inducer of Th1 responses and is being increasingly used as a delivery vehicle for the presentation of foreign antigens to the immune system. It has been proposed that expression of immunodominant antigens or cytokine genes in BCG can enhance the ability of BCG to induce a Th1 immune response. Since dose of the antigen is considered as one of the parameters that influence the Th cell responses, the level of expression of the candidate antigen should influence the final Th response against the recombinant BCG (rBCG). In the present study, the effect of over-expression of a candidate antigen Antigen 85B (Ag 85B) in a rBCG system, on the Th-priming ability of BCG has been investigated in the murine model. BALB/c mice were immunized with three different rBCG constructs expressing Ag 85B to various levels. Induction of Th1/Th2 responses was analyzed by measuring levels of interferon-gamma (Th1) and interleukin-10 (Th2) in antigen-stimulated splenocyte cultures and by quantifying the antigen-specific IgG2a (Th1) and IgG1 (Th2) antibody responses. By varying the level of expression of Ag 85B, specific immune responses against Ag 85B were observed to range from mixed Th1/Th2 to Th1. However, the BCG-specific immune responses in case of all rBCG-immunized animals remained predominantly Th1.     

Recombinant BCG coexpressing Ag85B,ESAT-6 and Rv3620c elicits specific Th1 immune responses in C57BL/6 mice

Tuberculosis (TB) remains to be an enormous global health problem. The inconsistent protection efficacy of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) calls for new vaccines for TB. One choice to improve the efficacy of BCG vaccine is recombinant BCG (rBCG). Experimental evidences have revealed that Ag85B, ESAT-6 and Rv3620c are important immunodominant antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this study, we have constructed a novel rBCG expressing fusion protein Ag85B-ESAT6-Rv3620c and evaluated the immunogenicity of this rBCG in C57BL/6 mice. Results show that there is a strong TB-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes proliferation in mice immunized with this rBCG vaccine. A single dose immunization of rBCG could induce a significantly strong Th1 immune response characterized by an increasing ratio of antigen-specific IgG2b/IgG1 as well as a high expression level of Th1 cytokines such as IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2. This conclusion was confirmed by a decreased secretion of Th2 cytokine IL-10. Moreover, this rBCG induced a strong humoral response in mice with an increasing antigen-specific IgG titer. Therefore, we concluded that this rBCG could significantly increase both Th1 type cellular immune response and antigen-specific humoral response compared with BCG. The above observations demonstrated that rBCG::Ag85B-ESAT6-Rv3620c is a potential candidate vaccine against M. tuberculosis for further study.     

Complement C5a anaphylatoxin is an innate determinant of dendritic cell-induced Th1 immunity to Mycobacterium bovis BCG infection in mice

During acquired immunity to Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infection in mice, dendritic cells (DCs) present mycobacterial antigens to naive T cells to prime an immune response. Complement C5a (anaphylatoxin) secreted by mycobacteria-infected macrophages regulates IL-12p70 production. As IL-12p70 regulates Th1 immunity against mycobacteria in mice, we examined the effects of C5a on IL-12p70 secretion by murine DCs and Th1 immunity. DCs cultured from C5-deficient (C5(-/-)) and -sufficient (C5(+/+)) mice were infected with BCG in the presence or absence of the C5a peptide. ELISA showed that C5(-/-) DCs secreted less IL-12p70 (600 pg/mL vs. 100 pg/mL) than C5(+/+) DCs, and they secreted more IL-10. Using immunophenotyping, reduced CD40 expression was found on C5(-/-) DCs after BCG infection. BCG-primed DCs were then cocultured with naive or BCG-immune T cells to differentiate them into IFN-gamma-secreting Th1 T cells. Coincident with increased IL-12p70 levels, BCG-primed C5(+/+) DCs cocultured with naive or immune C5(+/+) T cells showed a larger increase in CD4+ IFN-gamma/CD8+ IFN-gamma+ T cells compared with cocultured DCs and T cells from C5(-/-) mice. Thus, BCG-primed C5(+/+) DCs were better able to drive a Th1 response. Furthermore, BCG aerosol-infected C5(-/-) mice showed reduced CD4 and CD8 IFN-gamma-secreting T cells in the lungs, concurrent with an increased growth of BCG. Thus, C5a, an innate peptide, appears to play an important role in the generation of acquired immune responses in mice by regulating the Th1 response through modulation of IL-12p70 secretion from DCs.     

Identification of murine H2-Dd- and H2-Ab-restricted T-cell epitopes on a novel protective antigen, MPT51, of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Both CD4(+) type 1 helper T (Th1) cells and CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) play pivotal roles in protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Here, we identified Th1 and CTL epitopes on a novel protective antigen, MPT51, in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Mice were immunized with plasmid DNA encoding MPT51 by using a gene gun, and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production from the immune spleen cells was analyzed in response to a synthetic overlapping peptide library covering the mature MPT51 sequence. In BALB/c mice, only one peptide, p21-40, appeared to stimulate the immune splenocytes to produce IFN-gamma. Flow cytometric analysis with intracellular IFN-gamma and the T-cell phenotype revealed that the p21-40 peptide contains an immunodominant CD8(+) T-cell epitope. Further analysis with a computer-assisted algorithm permitted identification of a T-cell epitope, p24-32. In addition, a major histocompatibility complex class I stabilization assay with TAP2-deficient RMA-S cells transfected with K(d), D(d), or L(d) indicated that the epitope is presented by D(d). Finally, we proved that the p24-32/D(d) complex is recognized by IFN-gamma-producing CTL. In C57BL/6 mice, we observed H2-A(b)-restricted dominant and subdominant Th1 epitopes by using T-cell subset depletion analysis and three-color flow cytometry. The data obtained are useful for analyzing the role of MPT51-specific T cells in protective immunity and for designing a vaccine against M. tuberculosis infection.     

Functional plasticity of the LACK-reactive Vbeta4-Valpha8 CD4(+) T cells normally producing the early IL-4 instructing Th2 cell development and susceptibility to Leishmania major in BALB / c mice

Early production of IL-4 by LACK-reactive Vbeta4-Valpha8 CD4(+) T cells instructs aberrant Th2 cell development and susceptibility to Leishmania major in BALB / c mice. This was demonstrated using Vbeta4(+)-deficient BALB / c mice as a result of chronic infection with MMTV (SIM), a mouse mammary tumor virus expressing a Vbeta4-specific superantigen. The early IL-4 response was absent in these mice which develop a Th1 response to L. major. Here, we studied the functional plasticity of LACK-reactive Vbeta4-Valpha8 CD4(+) T cells using BALB/ c mice inoculated with L. major shortly after infection with MMTV (SIM), i. e. before deletion of Vbeta4(+) cells. These mice fail to produce the early IL-4 response to L. major and instead exhibit an IFN-gamma response that occurs within LACK-reactive Vbeta4-Valpha8 CD4(+) T cells. Neutralization of IFN-gamma restores the production of IL-4 by these cells. These data suggest that the functional properties of LACK-reactive Vbeta4-Valpha8 CD4(+) T cells are not irreversibly fixed.