Susceptible MHC alleles, not background genes, select an autoimmune T cell reactivity.

To detect and characterize autoreactive T cells in diabetes-prone NOD mice, we have developed a multimeric MHC reagent with high affinity for the BDC-2.5 T cell receptor, which is reactive against a pancreatic autoantigen. A distinct population of T cells is detected in NOD mice that recognizes the same MHC/peptide target. These T cells are positively selected in the thymus at a surprisingly high frequency and exported to the periphery. They are activated specifically in the pancreatic LNs, demonstrating an autoimmune specificity that recapitulates that of the BDC-2.5 cell. These phenomena are also observed in mouse lines that share with NOD the H-2g7 MHC haplotype but carry diabetes-resistance background genes. Thus, a susceptible haplotype at the MHC seems to be the only element required for the selection and emergence of autoreactive T cells, without requiring other diabetogenic loci from the NOD genome.

Selection of aberrant class II restricted CD8+ T cells in NOD mice expressing a glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)65-specific T cell receptor transgene.

We previously described the generation of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice expressing a transgenic T cell receptor (TCR) specific for peptide epitope 286-300 of the diabetes related self antigen, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)65 in the context of I-A(g7) class II MHC, that are paradoxically protected from diabetes. In this report, we examine the atypical CD8+ cells in these mice. Unlike typical class II restricted TCR transgenic mice, GAD286 mice have normal numbers of CD8+ cells, half of which express high levels of the transgenic TCR. These MHC mismatched CD8+ cells persist in the periphery and proliferate to GAD286-300 peptide in vitro and in vivo in a class II restricted fashion. Interestingly, the CD8+ tetramer(-) T cells that are expressing endogenous TCR can delay diabetes induction in a transfer model, as we previously showed for CD4+ tetramer+ T cells in these mice. The MHC mismatched CD8+ cells appear to be positively selected in an atypical fashion, in that they do not upregulate CD69 or reexpress CD44, and they escape negative selection. We find that production of these CD8+ cells is not dependent on NOD thymus or high affinity of the TCR, but is dependent on the atypical TCR transgenic thymic environment.

Mapping and restriction of a dominant viral CD4+ T cell core epitope by both MHC class I and MHC class II.

Virus-specific CD4(+) T cells contribute to effective virus control through a multiplicity of mechanisms including direct effector functions as well as "help" for B cell and CD8(+) T cell responses. Here, we have used the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) system to assess the minimal constraints of a dominant antiviral CD4(+) T cell response. We report that the core epitope derived from the LCMV glycoprotein (GP) is 11 amino acids in length and provides optimal recognition by epitope-specific CD4(+) T cells. Surprisingly, this epitope is also recognized by LCMV-specific CD8(+) T cells and thus constitutes a unique viral determinant with dual MHC class I- and II-restriction.

Rapid expansion and IL-4 expression by Leishmania-specific naive helper T cells in vivo.

CD4 T cells are pivotal for effective immunity, yet their initial differentiation into effector subsets after infection remains poorly defined. We examined CD4 T cells specific for the immunodominant Leishmania major LACK antigen using MHC/peptide tetramers and IL-4 reporter mice. Comprising approximately 15 cells/lymph node in naive mice, LACK-specific T cells expanded over 100-fold, and 70% acquired IL-4 expression by 96 hr. Despite their pathogenic role in susceptible mice, LACK-specific precursor frequency, expansion, and IL-4 expression were comparable between susceptible and resistant mice. When injected with unrelated antigen, Leishmania efficiently activated IL-4 expression from naive antigen-specific T cells. CD4 subset polarization in this highly characterized model occurs independently from IL-4 expression by naive T cells, which is activated indiscriminately after parasitism.

Detection of low-avidity CD4+ T cells using recombinant artificial APC: following the antiovalbumin immune response.

Subtle differences oppose CD4+ to CD8+ T cell physiologies that lead to different arrays of effector functions. Interestingly, this dichotomy has also unexpected practical consequences such as the inefficacy of many MHC class II tetramers in detecting specific CD4+ T cells. As a mean to study the CD4+ anti-OVA response in H-2(d) and H-2(b) genetic backgrounds, we developed I-A(d)- and I-A(b)-OVA recombinant MHC monomers and tetramers. We were able to show that in this particular system, despite normal biological activity, MHC class II tetramers failed to stain specific T cells. This failure was shown to be associated with a lack of cooperation between binding sites within the tetramer as measured by surface plasmon resonance. This limited cooperativeness translated into a low "functional avidity" and very transient binding of the tetramers to T cells. To overcome this biophysical barrier, recombinant artificial APC that display MHC molecules in a lipid bilayer were developed. The plasticity and size of the MHC-bearing fluorescent liposomes allowed binding to Ag-specific T cells and the detection of low numbers of anti-OVA T cells following immunization. The same liposomes were able, at 37 degrees C, to induce the full reorganization of the T cell signaling molecules and the formation of an immunological synapse. Artificial APC will allow T cell detection and the dissection of the molecular events of T cell activation and will help us understand the fundamental differences between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.