Changes in expression of CD45R during the development of Th1 and Th2 cell lines

Previous studies using anti-CD45R monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have shown that normal CD4+ T cells can be separated into virgin and memory cells based on their level of expression of CD45R. CD45Rhi (virgin) T cells secrete interleukin (IL)-2 whereas CD45Rlo (memory) T cells secrete both IL-2 and IL-4. In contrast to these results, studies using cultured T cell lines have shown that IL-2-secreting T helper cell type 1 (Th1) cells are CD45Rlo and IL-4-secreting Th2 cells are CD45Rhi. To resolve this discrepancy, and to determine how the Th1 and Th2 cell lines relate to memory CD45Rlo and virgin CD45Rhi CD4+ T cells, we have isolated CD45Rlo cells from alloantigen-primed mice and developed allospecific Th1 and Th2 cell lines. The lymphokines secreted by these lines were then evaluated. Our results show that as CD45Rlo T cells develop into in vitro cell lines which secrete IL-4, they become CD45Rhi. In contrast, CD45Rlo cells that develop into lines which secrete IL-2 maintain their CD45Rlo phenotype. Thus, although both Th1 and Th2 cells arise initially from CD45Rlo cells, Th2 cells become CD45Rhi during prolonged in vitro culture but, Th1 cells do not.