Generation mechanisms of anti-type 2 T cells, an antagonistic cell for burn-associated CDStype 2 T cells. T

Anti-type 2 T cells, demonstrated in spleens of thermally injured mice (TI-mice) following the generation of burn-associated CDStype 2 T cells, improved resistance of TI-mice to herpesvirus infections. Anti-type 2 T cells did not belong to other CD4subsets (Thl or Th2 cells) and were able to counteract the activity of type 2 T cells in vivo and in vitro. In the present study generation mechanisms of anti-type 2 T cells were studied in vitro. CD4T cells from splenic mononuclear cells (MNC), which were previously co-cultured for 48 hrs with various cells (MNC, macrophages, T cells) sensitized in vitro with T6S cells (a clone of burn-associated CDStype 2 T cells), were assayed for their anti-type 2 T cell activities in a modified mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). CD4T cells from mice injected with T6S cell-sensitized macrophages were also assayed for their activities in the MLR. Anti-type 2 T cells were detected in MNC from mice 48 hrs after i.v. inoculation of the sensitized macrophages. CD4T cells expressed their anti-type 2 T cell activities when they were prepared from MNC co-cultured with the sensitized macrophages, but not T and B cells. The anti-type 2 T cells induced in vitro were shown to resemble anti-type 2 T cells induced in TI-mice. These results suggest that anti-type 2 T cells were generated when naive MNC were co-cultured with macrophages previously sensitized with T6S cells. Macrophages may play a key role on the generation of anti-type 2 T cells.