Whether memory T cells require persisting antigen for their survival has been a matter of debate. One prominent view that memory T cells do not require persisting antigen is based in part on studies in which T cell populations have been transferred into antigen-free mice. To generate 'space' recipients were often irradiated; the functional properties of the transfused T cells were then evaluated after prolonged periods. In this report we show that transferring cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) into irradiated or T and B cell-deficient hosts results in their proliferation and a change of their activation state. Moreover, naive T cell receptor-transgenic CTL specific for the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein spontaneously developed cytotoxic effector function under such conditions. Therefore, some of the conclusions based on transfer of T cell populations into irradiated recipients to investigate T cell memory may have to be reevaluated.
CITATION STYLE
Oehen, S., & Brduscha-Riem, K. (1999). Naive cytotoxic T lymphocytes spontaneously acquire effector function in lymphocytopenic recipients: A pitfall for T cell memory studies? European Journal of Immunology, 29(2), 608–614. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1521-4141(199902)29:02<608::AID-IMMU608>3.0.CO;2-A
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