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Antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs) directed at self-antigens are difficult to study since suitable specific tools to isolate and characterize these cells are lacking. A T cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic mouse would generate possibilities to study such antigen-specific T cells. As was shown previously, immunization with the mycobacterial heat shock protein (Hsp) 70-derived peptide B29 and its mouse homologs mB29a and mB29b induced anti-inflammatory responses. Furthermore, B29 induced antigen-specific Tregs in vivo. To study mB29b-specific Tregs, we isolated the TCR from T cell hybridomas generated against mB29b and produced a TCR transgenic mouse that expresses a MHC-class II restricted mB29b-specific TCR. These TCR transgenic CD4+ T cells were found to cross-react with the B29 epitope as identified with peptide-induced proliferation and IL-2 production. Thus, we have successfully generated a novel mouse model with antigen-specific CD4+ T cells that recognize self and bacterial Hsp 70-derived peptides. With this novel mouse model, it will be possible to study primary antigen-specific T cells with specificity for a regulatory Hsp70 T cell epitope. This will enable the isolation and characterization CD4+CD25+ Tregs with a proven specificity. This will provide useful knowledge of the induction, activation, and mode of action of Hsp70-specific Tregs, for instance, during experimental arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innate-like murine B-1a cells are well known for their ability to secrete natural IgM. Their non-Ab mediated functions, including Ag presentation to CD4+ T cells, are less well explored. Using combined adoptive transfer experiments with peptide-pulsed peritoneal cavity (PerC)-derived B-1a cells and CFSE-labeled T cells, we show that B-1a cells present Ag to CD4+ T cells from the periphery in vivo. In vitro characterization, using co-cultures in which B-1a or splenic B cells presented whole OVA protein to OVA-specific Tg T cells, shows that B-1a cells differentially promote intracellular cytokine-expressing T cells. PerC-derived B-1a cells increase the percentage of IL-10-producing T cells along with IL-4- and IFN-γ-producing CD4+ T cells. These data suggest that B cells in the PerC have the potential to influence peripheral immune responses without the necessity to migrate out of this location. This, to our knowledge previously undescribed, immuno-logical pathway potentially plays a role in the presentation of gut microbiota-derived Ags to peripheral T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pneumoviruses such as pneumonia virus of mice (PVM), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (bRSV) or human (h)RSV are closely related pneumoviruses that cause severe respiratory disease in their respective hosts. It is well-known that T-cell responses are essential in pneumovirus clearance, but pneumovirus-specific T-cell responses also are important mediators of severe immunopathology. In this study we determined whether memory- or pre-existing, transferred virus-specific CD8+ T-cells provide protection against PVM-induced disease. We show that during infection with a sublethal dose of PVM, both natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T-cells expand relatively late. Induction of CD8+ T-cell memory against a single CD8+ T-cell epitope, by dendritic cell (DC)-peptide immunization, leads to partial protection against PVM challenge and prevents Th2 differentiation of PVM-induced CD4 T-cells. In addition, adoptively transferred PVM-specific CD8+ T-cells, covering the entire PVM-specific CD8+ T-cell repertoire, provide partial protection from PVM-induced disease. From these data we infer that antigen-specific memory CD8+ T-cells offer significant protection to PVM-induced disease. Thus, CD8+ T-cells, despite being a major cause of PVM-associated pathology during primary infection, may offer promising targets of a protective pneumovirus vaccine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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Innate-like murine B-1a cells are well known for their ability to secrete natural IgM. Their non-Ab mediated functions, including Ag presentation to CD4(+) T cells, are less well explored. Using combined adoptive transfer experiments with peptide-pulsed peritoneal cavity (PerC)-derived B-1a cells and CFSE-labeled T cells, we show that B-1a cells present Ag to CD4(+) T cells from the periphery in vivo. In vitro characterization, using co-cultures in which B-1a or splenic B cells presented whole OVA protein to OVA-specific Tg T cells, shows that B-1a cells differentially promote intracellular cytokine-expressing T cells. PerC-derived B-1a cells increase the percentage of IL-10-producing T cells along with IL-4- and IFN-γ-producing CD4(+) T cells. These data suggest that B cells in the PerC have the potential to influence peripheral immune responses without the necessity to migrate out of this location. This, to our knowledge previously undescribed, immuno-logical pathway potentially plays a role in the presentation of gut microbiota-derived Ags to peripheral T cells., (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)