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Responses to human rhinovirus in CD45 T cell subsets isolated from tonsil
S Wilamasundera1, D R Katz, B M Chain
1Department of Immunology, Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, University College London, GB.
European Journal of Immunology
|December 23, 1998
Summary
Human tonsils harbor CD45RA+ memory T cells that respond to rhinovirus, challenging traditional T cell classification. This suggests ongoing immune stimulation within this lymphoid organ.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- T cell biology
- Virology
Background:
- CD45 isotypes (CD45RA+, CD45RO+) traditionally differentiate naive and memory T cells in peripheral blood.
- Human tonsils are key lymphoid organs involved in immune responses to inhaled and ingested antigens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the proliferative response of T cells from human tonsils against human rhinovirus.
- To determine if CD45RA+ T cells in tonsils exhibit memory cell characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of T cells from human tonsils.
- Measurement of T cell proliferation in response to human rhinovirus.
- Assessment of MHC class II-dependent antigen presentation.
- Comparison with T cells from human cord blood.
Main Results:
- Equivalent proliferative responses to human rhinovirus were observed in both CD4+CD45RA+ and CD4+CD45RO+ T cell populations from tonsils.
- The T cell response was dependent on MHC class II-positive antigen-presenting cells.
- The response kinetics resembled a classical recall response.
- No proliferative response to rhinovirus was detected in human cord blood T cells.
Conclusions:
- Tonsils contain a substantial population of CD45RA+ memory T cells.
- These CD45RA+ memory cells in tonsils may be primed by common infectious agents like rhinovirus.
- The anatomical location of tonsils likely contributes to the presence of these memory T cells.