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This study describes the construction of soluble major histocompatibility complexes consisting of the mouse class I molecule, H-2Db, chemically biotinylated beta2 microglobulin and a peptide epitope derived from the glycoprotein (GP; amino acids 33-41) of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Tetrameric class I complexes, which were produced by mixing the class I complexes with phycoerythrin-labeled neutravidin, permitted direct analysis of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) by flow cytometry. This technique was validated by (a) staining CD8+ cells in the spleens of transgenic mice that express a T cell receptor (TCR) specific for H-2Db in association with peptide GP33-41, and (b) by staining virus-specific CTLs in the cerebrospinal fluid of C57BL/6 (B6) mice that had been infected intracranially with LCMV-DOCILE. Staining of spleen cells isolated from B6 mice revealed that up to 40% of CD8(+) T cells were GP33 tetramer+ during the initial phase of LCMV infection. In contrast, GP33 tetramers did not stain CD8+ T cells isolated from the spleens of B6 mice that had been infected 2 mo previously with LCMV above the background levels found in naive mice. The fate of virus-specific CTLs was analyzed during the acute phase of infection in mice challenged both intracranially and intravenously with a high or low dose of LCMV-DOCILE. The results of the study show that the outcome of infection by LCMV is determined by antigen load alone. Furthermore, the data indicate that deletion of virus-specific CTLs in the presence of excessive antigen is preceded by TCR downregulation and is dependent upon perforin.

Original publication

DOI

10.1084/jem.187.9.1383

Type

Journal article

Journal

The Journal of experimental medicine

Publication Date

05/1998

Volume

187

Pages

1383 - 1393

Addresses

Institute of Experimental Immunology, CH-8091, Zürich, Switzerland. awen.gallimore@ndm.ox.ac.uk

Keywords

Spleen, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic, Animals, Mice, Transgenic, Mice, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Glycoproteins, Peptides, beta 2-Microglobulin, Membrane Glycoproteins, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, Histocompatibility Antigens Class I, Flow Cytometry, Major Histocompatibility Complex, Protein Conformation, Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins, Perforin, Interferon-gamma