RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cutting Edge: Precursor Frequency Affects the Helper Dependence of Cytotoxic T Cells
JF The Journal of Immunology
JO J. Immunol.
FD American Association of Immunologists
SP 977
OP 980
DO 10.4049/jimmunol.168.3.977
VO 168
IS 3
A1 Mintern, Justine D.
A1 Davey, Gayle M.
A1 Belz, Gabrielle T.
A1 Carbone, Francis R.
A1 Heath, William R.
YR 2002
UL http://www.jimmunol.org/content/168/3/977.abstract
AB Generation of CTL immunity often depends on the availability of CD4 T cell help. In this report, we show that CTL responses induced by cross-priming can be converted from CD4-dependent to CD4-independent by increasing the frequency of CTL precursors. In the absence of CD4 T cells, high numbers of CTL precursors were able to expand in number and become effector CTL. The ability of high frequencies of CD8 T cells to override help was not due to their ability to signal CD40 via expression of CD154. These findings suggest that when precursor frequencies are high, priming of CD8 T cell responses may not require CD4 T cell help.