Evolution of a complex T cell receptor repertoire during primary and recall bacterial infection

The mechanisms underlying the genesis and maintenance of T cell memory remain unclear. In this study, we examined the evolution of a complex, antigen-specific T cell population during the transition from primary effector to memory T cells after Listeria monocytogenes infection. T cell populations specific for listeriolysin O (LLO)91-99, the immunodominant epitope recognized by H2-Kd-restricted T lymphocytes, were directly identified in immune spleens using tetrameric H2-Kd-epitope complexes. The T cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta repertoire of specific T cells was determined by direct, ex vivo staining with a panel of mAbs. We demonstrate that LLO91-99-specific, primary effector T cell populations have a diverse TCR Vbeta repertoire. Analyses of memory T cell populations demonstrated similar TCR diversity. Furthermore, experiments with individual mice demonstrated that primary effector and memory T cells have indistinguishable TCR repertoires. Remarkably, after reinfection with L. monocytogenes, LLO91-99-specific T cells have a narrower TCR repertoire than do primary effector or memory T cells. Thus, our studies show that the TCR repertoire of primary effector T lymphocytes is uniformly transmitted to memory T cells, whereas expansion of memory T cells is selective.