Tumor antigen drives a persistent oligoclonal expansion of CD8+ T cells in aged mice. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Oligoclonal T cell expansions (TCE) are common in old humans and mice, but it is not known whether the T cell response to a specific antigen is more restricted in old vs. young animals. Herein, we describe an enhanced and prolonged response of tumor antigen-specific CD8 cells in old mice identified by K(d)/peptide tetramers and Vbeta10 staining. At the onset of the response CD8 T cell numbers and Vbeta10+CD8+ cells at the site of tumor injection were lower in old mice, hinting that control of initial tumor growth may not be optimal. As further evidence of a dysregulated response in old mice, antibody titers to the tumor were deficient and the CD8 tumor antigen-specific response was greater and more prolonged in the blood and spleen. Old mice selected a more oligoclonal TCR repertoire based on TCRbeta chain CDR3 length analysis and sequences. Persistent expansions of Vbeta10+CD8+ cells in old mice had memory/activation phenotypes. This induced tumor antigen-specific response may represent a model for the spontaneous TCE observed with aging and demonstrates that the CD8 response to a defined peptide/MHC antigen is indeed more oligoclonal in old mice.

publication date

  • June 1, 2002

Research

keywords

  • Aging
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0036080380

PubMed ID

  • 12115648

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 32

issue

  • 6