A critical role for CD2 in both thymic selection events and mature T cell function

J Immunol. 2001 Feb 15;166(4):2394-403. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.166.4.2394.

Abstract

To examine the function of CD2 in vivo, N15 TCR transgenic (tg) RAG-2(-/-) H-2(b) mice bearing a single TCR specific for the vesicular stomatitis virus octapeptide bound to the H-2K(b) molecule were compared on a wild-type or CD2(-/-) background. In N15tg RAG-2(-/-) CD2(-/-) mice, thymic dysfunction is evident by 6 wk with a pre-TCR block in the CD4(-)CD8(-) double-negative thymocytes at the CD25(+)CD44(-) stage. Moreover, mature N15tg RAG-2(-/-) CD2(-/-) T cells are approximately 100-fold less responsive to vesicular stomatitis virus octapeptide and unresponsive to weak peptide agonists, as judged by IFN-gamma production. Repertoire analysis shows substantial differences in Valpha usage between non-tg C57BL/6 (B6) and B6 CD2(-/-) mice. Collectively, these findings show that CD2 plays a role in pre-TCR function in double-negative thymocytes, TCR selection events during thymocyte development, and TCR-stimulated cytokine production in mature T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • CD2 Antigens / biosynthesis
  • CD2 Antigens / genetics
  • CD2 Antigens / physiology*
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / genetics
  • Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
  • Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Interferon-gamma / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-12 / physiology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Lymphopenia / genetics
  • Lymphopenia / immunology
  • Lymphopenia / pathology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / deficiency
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / deficiency
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / pathology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • Thymus Gland / cytology*
  • Thymus Gland / immunology*
  • Thymus Gland / metabolism
  • Thymus Gland / pathology

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • CD2 Antigens
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • pre-T cell receptor alpha
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interferon-gamma