CD4+CD57+ T cells derived from peripheral blood do not support immunoglobulin production by B cells

Summary, in English

A small subpopulation of CD4⁺ T cells found in peripheral blood coexpresses the CD57⁺ marker normally found on, e.g., NK cells. It is known that this population occurs in a higher frequency in certain diseases. The same antigen has also been shown to be expressed on CD4⁺ T cells derived from germinal centers. The localization of this cell population to specialized lymphoid structures suggests that it may play a role in the evolution of the antibody response following antigenic stimulation in vivo. We have examined the ability of peripheral blood helper T cells coexpressing CD57 to participate in B cell activation/differentiation and evaluated their responses to polyclonal stimulation. The CD4⁺CD57⁺ T cells do not express mRNA for a number of different cytokines or for the CD40 ligand after activation in vitro. Furthermore these cells do not induce differentiation of B cells into immunoglobulin-producing cells. Consequently, despite their CD4 phenotype and their ability to be activated, to express the IL-2 receptor, and to enter into the cell cycle, they do not act as T helper cells under conditions where CD4⁺/CD57^- cells normally do so. The findings suggest that this peripheral blood helper T cell population is functionally different from regular CD4⁺ T cells. The basis for the lack of proper costimulatory signals for immunoglobulin production might be related to the low expression of CD28.

• Author: Eva Andersson; Mats Ohlin; Carl A K Borrebaeck; Roland Carlsson
• Department/s: Department of Immunotechnology
• Publishing year: 1995
• Language: English
• Pages: 245-253
• Publication/Series: Cellular Immunology
• Volume: 163
• Issue: 2
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/cimm.1995.1123
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0008-8749