Abstract
AbstractCytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) maintains peripheral tolerance by suppressing T-cell activation and proliferation but its precise role in vivo remains unclear. We sought to elucidate the impact of CTLA-4 expression on self/tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells by using the glycoprotein (gp) 100–specific T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mouse, pmel-1. pmel-1 CLTA-4–/– mice developed profound, accelerated autoimmune vitiligo. This enhanced autoimmunity was associated with a small but highly activated CD8+ T-cell population and large numbers of CD4+ T cells not expressing the transgenic TCR. Adoptive transfer of pmel-1 CLTA-4–/– CD8+ T cells did not mediate superior antitumor immunity in the settings of either large established tumors or tumor challenge, suggesting that the mere absence of CTLA-4–mediated inhibition on CD8+ T cells did not directly promote enhancement of their effector functions. Removal of CD4+ T cells by crossing the pmel-1 CLTA-4–/– mouse onto a Rag-1–/– background resulted in the complete abrogation of CD8+ T-cell activation and autoimmune manifestations. The effects of CD4+ CLTA-4–/– T cells were dependent on the absence of CTLA-4 on CD8+ T cells. These results indicated that CD8+ CLTA-4–/– T-cell–mediated autoimmunity and tumor immunity required CD4+ T cells in which the function was dysregulated by the absence of CTLA-4–mediated negative costimulation.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.