Kinetics of accumulation of γδ receptor-bearing T lymphocytes in mice infected with live mycobacteria

Abstract

The kinetics of accumulation of T cells bearing the γδ heterodimer form of the T-cell receptor in mice infected with live Mycobacterium bovis BCG or M. tuberculosis was studied. Substantial numbers of γδ T cells accumulated in mice given primary mycobacterial infections, although this accumulation was in parallel to, but not preferential to, that of αβ receptor-bearing T cells. In contrast, no accumulation of γδ cells was observed in memory immune mice upon rechallenge, thus suggesting that γδ cells play no role in the anamnestic response. The results of the study show, further, that large accumulations of γδ T cells can also be induced by inoculation with oil adjuvant vehicles containing heat-killed mycobacteria, although not by inoculation of the heat-killed bacteria alone.