Cbl-b mitigates the responsiveness of naive CD8⁺ T cells that experience extensive tonic T cell receptor signaling

Naive T cells experience tonic T cell receptor (TCR) signaling in response to self-antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in secondary lymphoid organs. We investigated how relatively weak or strong tonic TCR signals influence naive CD8⁺ T cell responses to stimulation with foreign antigens. The heterogeneous expression of Nur77-GFP, a transgenic reporter of tonic TCR signaling, in naive CD8⁺ T cells suggests variable intensities or durations of tonic TCR signaling. Although the expression of genes associated with acutely stimulated T cells was increased in Nur77-GFP^HI cells, these cells were hyporesponsive to agonist TCR stimulation compared with Nur77-GFP^LO cells. This hyporesponsiveness manifested as diminished activation marker expression and decreased secretion of IFN-γ and IL-2. The protein abundance of the ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b, a negative regulator of TCR signaling, was greater in Nur77-GFP^HI cells than in Nur77-GFP^LO cells, and Cbl-b deficiency partially restored the responsiveness of Nur77-GFP^HI cells. Our data suggest that the cumulative effects of previously experienced tonic TCR signaling recalibrate naive CD8⁺ T cell responsiveness. These changes include gene expression changes and negative regulation partially dependent on Cbl-b. This cell-intrinsic negative feedback loop may enable the immune system to restrain naive CD8⁺ T cells with higher self-reactivity.