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Detection and Isolation of Viable Mouse IL-17-Secreting T Cells
Published on: December 18, 2008
Evidence for gammadelta T cells with a restricted Vgamma6 junctional region in the normal mouse central nervous
B Szymanska1, A J Rajan, Y L Gao
1Department of Neurology, Medical Academy of Lodz, Poland.
Insights
Gammadelta T cells, a type of immune cell, are found in the normal mouse central nervous system (CNS). These cells show characteristics of memory cells and may play a role in immune surveillance of the CNS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Immunology
- T cell biology
Background:
- The presence and function of T cells within the normal central nervous system (CNS) are not fully understood.
- Gammadelta T cells represent a distinct lineage of T cells with unique properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and phenotype of gammadelta T cells in the normal mouse CNS.
- To explore the potential role of CNS gammadelta T cells in immune regulation and surveillance.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry to analyze cell surface markers (CD45RB, CD8alphabeta, IL-2rbeta, Fas, FasL).
- Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to assess T cell receptor (TCR) Vdelta gene usage.
- Sequencing of RT-PCR products to determine the clonality of T cell populations.
Main Results:
- Gammadelta T cells were identified in the normal mouse CNS, exhibiting a CD45RBlow phenotype suggestive of memory cells.
- A subset of CNS gammadelta T cells expressed CD8alphabeta, indicating a potential thymic origin.
- Gammadelta T cells in both CNS and spleen showed higher expression of IL-2rbeta, Fas, and FasL compared to alphabeta T cells, suggesting immunoregulatory functions.
- RT-PCR revealed predominant Vdelta6 gene usage in the CNS, with a more clonal T cell population compared to the spleen.
- A dominant Vdelta6 sequence was consistently found in the CNS and also detected in the spleen.
Conclusions:
- A selective subset of circulating gammadelta T cells actively traffics through the CNS.
- All major lymphocyte populations, including gammadelta T cells, are present in the normal CNS.
- These findings suggest that lymphocytes may play crucial roles in the immunological surveillance of the CNS.
Abstract:
In this study we present evidence that gammadelta T cells are present in the normal mouse central nervous system (CNS). Compared with matching spleen gammadelta T cells, CNS gammadelta T cells expressed only the CD45RBlow phenotype, suggesting that CNS gammadelta T cells belong to the memory cell population. Approximately 20% expressed exclusively the CD8alphabeta heterodimer, consistent with a thymic origin. Gammadelta T cells in both spleen and CNS expressed higher levels of the IL-2rbeta (CD122), as well as Fas and FasL, than alphabeta T cells, suggesting that these cells function as immunoregulatory T cells. RT-PCR analysis showed almost exclusive use of Vdelta6 in the CNS whereas more Vdelta genes were expressed in the spleen. Sequencing of Vdelta6 RT-PCR products demonstrated a polyclonal population of T cells in the spleen but a more clonal population within the CNS. The predominant CNS sequence was found in all animals studied and was also detected in the spleen. From these data we conclude that a selective component of circulating gammadelta T cells traffics through the CNS. Thus, all major populations of lymphocytes can be detected in the normal CNS and as such may play specific roles in the immunological surveillance of that organ.
