CD11b expression as a marker to distinguish between recently activated effector CD8(+) T cells and memory cells
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
CD8(+) T cells in different activation states have been difficult to identify phenotypically. In this study we have investigated whether Mac-1 (CD11b) expression can be used as a criterion to distinguish between recently activated effector cells and memory cells belonging to the CD8(+) T cell subset. Polyclonal virus-specific effector and memory CD8(+) T cells from lymphocytic choriomeningitis- and vesicular stomatitis virus-infected mice were visualized through staining for intracellular IFN-gamma or binding of MHC-peptide tetramers, and Mac-1 expression was evaluated. Naive T cells and most virus-specific memory CD8(+) T cells express little or no Mac-1 independent of the virus model employed. In contrast, the majority of CD8(+) T cells present during acute infection express a significant level of Mac-1 and, similarly, Mac-1 expression is found on secondary effectors generated in response to viral re-exposure. We therefore suggest that high Mac-1 expression defines a subset of circulating effector cells and that the presence of this marker on antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells signifies recent activation.
Original language | English |
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Journal | International Immunology |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 4 |
Pages (from-to) | 593-600 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISSN | 0953-8178 |
Publication status | Published - 2001 |
Bibliographical note
Keywords: Acute Disease; Animals; Biological Markers; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Female; Flow Cytometry; Immunologic Memory; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus; Macrophage-1 Antigen; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Rhabdoviridae Infections; Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus
ID: 9639452