The development and functions of CD4(+) T cells expressing a transgenic TCR specific for an MHC-I-restricted tumor antigenic epitope

Cell Mol Immunol. 2011 Jul;8(4):333-40. doi: 10.1038/cmi.2011.14. Epub 2011 May 30.

Abstract

It has been reported that the ratio of CD4(+) to CD8(+) T cells has no bias in a few class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I)-restricted T-cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic mice specific for alloantigens or autoantigens, in which most CD4(+) T cells express an MHC-I-restricted TCR. In this study, we further showed that more than 50% of CD4(+) T cells in MHC-I-restricted P1A tumor antigen-specific TCR (P1ATCR)-transgenic mice could specifically bind to MHC-I/P1A peptide complex. P1A peptide could stimulate the transgenic CD4(+) T cells to proliferate and secrete both type 1 helper T cell and type 2 helper T cell cytokines. The activated CD4(+) T cells also showed cytotoxicity against P1A-expressing tumor cells. The analysis of TCR α-chains showed that these CD4(+) T cells were selected by co-expressing endogenous TCRs. Our results show that CD4(+) T cells from P1ATCR transgenic mice co-expressed an MHC-I-restricted transgenic TCR and another rearranged endogenous TCRs, both of which were functional.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Female
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cytokines
  • Epitopes
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • tumor rejection antigen P815A, mouse