| First Author | Capone M | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | Eur J Immunol | Volume | 33 |
| Issue | 6 | Pages | 1471-7 |
| PubMed ID | 12778464 | Mgi Jnum | J:83888 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2664030 | Doi | 10.1002/eji.200323754 |
| Citation | Capone M, et al. (2003) Selective absence of CD8+ TCRalpha beta+ intestinal epithelial cells in transgenic mice expressing beta2-microglobulin-associated ligands exclusively on thymic cortical epithelium. Eur J Immunol 33(6):1471-7 |
| abstractText | Whereas interactions between the TCRalpha beta and self MHC:peptide complexes are clearly required for positive selection of mature CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells during intrathymic development, the role of self or foreign ligands in maintaining the peripheral T cell repertoire is still controversial. In this report we have utilized keratin 14-beta2-microglobulin (K14-beta2m)-transgenic mice expressing beta2m-associated ligands exclusively on thymic cortical epithelial cells to address the possible influence of TCR:ligand interactions in peripheral CD8(+) T cell homeostasis. Our data indicate that CD8(+) T cells in peripheral lymphoid tissues are present in normal numbers in the absence of self MHC class I:peptide ligands. Surprisingly, however, steady state homeostasis of CD8(+) T cells in the intestinal epithelium is severely affected by the absence of beta2m-associated ligands. Indeed TCRalpha beta(+) IEL subsets expressing CD8alpha beta or CD8alpha alpha are both dramatically reduced in K14-beta2m mice, suggesting that the development, survival or expansion of CD8(+) IEL depends upon interaction of the TCR with MHC class I:peptide or other beta2m-associated ligands elsewhere than on thymic cortical epithelium. Collectively, our data reveal an unexpected difference in the regulation of CD8(+) T cell homeostasis by beta2m-associated ligands in the intestine as compared to peripheral lymphoid organs. |
