Selective induction of effector functions in a T cell clone following antigen presentation in the presence of thymic epithelial cells
Kaneda, R.
Hokkaido Journal of Medical Science 72(2): 195-210
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0367-6102 PMID: 9145312 Document Number: 472731
Selective induction of effector functions in a T cell clone, DB14, specific for pigeon cytochrome c 43-58 (p43-58) and restricted to I-A-b was analyzed using professional antigen presenting cells (APC), B hybridoma (Th2.58), and various non-professional APC, L cells transfected with I-A-b (I-A-b L cells), a medullary thymic epithelial cell line (m-TEC) and a cortical thymic epithelial cell line (c-TEC). The m-TEC and c-TEC (m, c-TEC) expressed I-A-b after culturing with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). When stimulated with p43-58 in the presence of I-A-b L cells as well as Th2.58 cells, the DB14 cells showed marked proliferation and exhibited significant cytotoxicity against these APC after 18 hr of culture. By contrast, in the presence of m, c-TEC the DB14 cells showed neither proliferation nor cytotoxicity against these TEC but exhibited considerable detachment activity against them. Furthermore DB14 cells became expressed activation markers (CD69 and CD44) after antigen (p43-58) stimulation with m-TEC or c-TEC. Addition of rIL-2 to the culture of DB14 cells, p43-58 and m, c-TEC restored the proliferative responses. However, it was shown that anergy was not involved in the lack of proliferative response of DB14 cells after antigen stimulation with m, c-TEC. The present findings indicate that differences in APC function are present among non-professional APC and suggest that the selective induction of T cell functions can be achieved using appropriate non-professional APC. The characteristic activation of T cells by TEC may be related to their functional roles in situ.