Abstract
Murine Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells express various NK markers and NK inhibitory receptors that have been proposed to modulate immune responses. Following acute infection of C57BL/6 and BALB/cJ mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), we observed that Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells expressed CD94/NKG2. Only slight expression of Ly49A and Ly49C receptors was observed on NP396-specific T cells, while all NP396-specific T cells expressed the NKT cell marker U5A2-13 Ag. Expression of CD94/NKG2 was maintained for at least 1 year following LCMV infection, as was the NKT cell marker. By means of cell sorting and quantitative PCR, we found that NP118-specific CD8(+) T cells primarily express transcripts for inhibitory NKG2 receptor isoforms. CD94/NKG2 expression was also observed on Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells following infection with polyoma virus, influenza virus, and Listeria monocytogenes, suggesting that it may be a common characteristic of Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells following infection with viral or bacterial pathogens. Expression of CD94/NKG2 on memory-specific CD8(+) T cells did not change following secondary challenge with LCMV clone 13 and did not inhibit viral clearance. Furthermore, we found no evidence that CD94/NKG2 inhibits either the lytic function of LCMV-specific T cells or their capacity to produce effector cytokines upon peptide stimulation. Finally, down-regulation of CD94/NKG2 was found to occur only during chronic LCMV infection. Altogether, this study suggests that CD94/NKG2 expression is not necessarily correlated with inhibition of T cell function.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibody Specificity
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Antigens, CD / biosynthesis*
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Antigens, CD / physiology
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Antigens, Ly*
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Cell Line
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Clone Cells
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Cytotoxicity, Immunologic*
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Down-Regulation / immunology*
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Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism
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Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
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Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
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Lectins, C-Type*
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Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / immunology*
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Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis*
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Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology
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Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
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Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Mice, Inbred C3H
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily A
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NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
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Protein Isoforms / biosynthesis
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Protein Isoforms / metabolism
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Protein Isoforms / physiology
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Receptors, Immunologic / biosynthesis*
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Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism
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Receptors, Immunologic / physiology
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Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like
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Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
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Spleen / cytology
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Spleen / immunology
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Spleen / metabolism
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T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / metabolism
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T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / virology*
Substances
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Antigens, CD
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Antigens, Ly
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Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
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Klra1 protein, mouse
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Klra3 protein, mouse
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Klrd1 protein, mouse
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Lectins, C-Type
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily A
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NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
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Protein Isoforms
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Q surface antigens
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Receptors, Immunologic
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Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like
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Receptors, Natural Killer Cell