Understanding the dynamics of an endogenous ova specific CD8+ T‐cell response in a murine model of allergic airway disease

Abstract

Elegant studies examining the endogenous antigen specific CD8+ T‐cell responses to bacterial infections have recently been published utilizing confocal imaging and tetramer technology. The current study was designed to elucidate the role of antigen specific CD8+ T‐cells in a well characterized murine model of allergic airway disease (AAD). In this AAD model acute aerosol exposure (3–7days) with 1% ovalbumin results in a clonal expansion of T and B‐cells in the local lung compartments (BAL, Lung tissue, HLN). Chronic aerosol exposure (42days) results in results in resolution of AAD. We have labeled this as local inhalational tolerance (LIT), which is characterized by the maintenance of CD8+ T cells. We hypothesis that antigen specific CD8+ T‐cells expand during the acute phase of the model and contribute to the development of AAD and are diminished at LIT. This makes them an important indicator of disease but suggests they have a limited role in the resolution of disease. Utilizing flow cytometry we have found an increase in tetramer positive CD8+ T cells in local lung compartments during AAD and a decrease during LIT. We are currently correlating this data using confocal microscopy.