TCR V β8+ T cells prevent development of toxoplasmic encephalitis in BALB/c mice genetically resistant to the disease

Hoil Kang, Oliver Liesenfeld, Jack S. Remington, Jennifer Claflin, Xisheng Wang, Yasuhiro Suzuki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

BALB/c are genetically resistant to development of toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) when infected with Toxoplasma gondii, whereas CBA/Ca mice are susceptible. We compared TCR V β chain usage in lymphocytes infiltrated into brains between these animals following infection. TCR V β8+ cells were the most frequent T cell population in brains of infected, resistant BALB/c mice, whereas TCR V β6+ T cells were more prevalent than V β8+ T cells in brains of infected, susceptible CBA/Ca mice. Adoptive transfer of V β8+ immune T cells, obtained from infected BALB/c mice, prevented development of TE and mortality in infected athymic nude mice that lack T cells. In contrast, adoptive transfer of V β6+ immune T cells did not prevent development of TE or mortality in the nude mice. The protective activity of V β8+ immune T cells was greater than that of the total V β8- population. In addition, V β8+ immune T cells produced markedly greater amounts of IFN-γ than did the V β8- population after stimulation with tachyzoite lysate Ags in vitro. Thus, V β8+ T cells appear to play a crucial role in the genetic resistance of BALB/c mice against development of TE.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4254-4259
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume170
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 15 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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