Development of hapten-induced IL-4-producing CD4 super(+) T lymphocytes requires early IL-4 production by alpha beta T lymphocytes carrying invariant V sub( alpha )14 TCR alpha chains

• Published in: International immunology 1998-01, Vol.10 (4), p.413-420
• Main Authors: Dieli, F, Taniguchi, M, Asherson, G L, Sireci, G, Caccamo, N, Scire, E, Bonanno, C T, Salerno, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0953-8178

This paper investigates the mechanisms responsible for the generation of IL-4-producing CD4 super(+) T cells during contact sensitization with the hapten trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB). Lymph node cells taken 1 day after immunization spontaneously released IL-4 while lymph node cells taken 2 and 3 days after immunization did not produce IL-4. A second wave of IL-4 production that was both antigen-specific and MHC class II (I-A)-restricted was observed 4 days after immunization. The spontaneous release of IL-4 at day 1 was due to the alpha beta super(+) double-negative (CD4 super(-)CD8 super(-)) T lymphocytes that also expressed NK1.1 and showed V sub( alpha )14 rearrangement, while alpha beta super(+) CD4 super(+) T lymphocytes were the source of the antigen-specific IL-4 production at day 4. Early IL-4 production was required for the development of IL-4-producing CD4 super(+) T cells as mice injected with anti-V sub( alpha )14 or anti-IL-4 mAb produced little IL-4 and IL-10, while production of IFN- gamma was increased similar to 2-fold. These results indicate that the development of IL-4-producing CD4 super(+) T lymphocytes in the TNCB system requires early production of IL-4 by alpha beta super(+) double-negative cells carrying invariant V sub( alpha )14 TCR alpha chain.