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Analysis of regulatory CD8 T cells in Qa-1-deficient mice

Nature Immunology volume 5, pages 516–523 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

The mouse protein Qa-1 (HLA-E in humans) is essential for immunological protection and immune regulation. Although Qa-1 has been linked to CD8 T cell–dependent suppression, the physiological relevance of this observation is unclear. We generated mice deficient in Qa-1 to develop an understanding of this process. Qa-1-deficient mice develop exaggerated secondary CD4 responses to foreign and self peptides. Enhanced responses to proteolipid protein self peptide were associated with resistance of Qa-1-deficient CD4 T cells to Qa-1-restricted CD8 T suppressor activity and increased susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. These findings delineate a Qa-1-dependent T cell–T cell inhibitory interaction that prevents the pathogenic expansion of autoreactive CD4 T cell populations and consequent autoimmune disease.

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Figure 1: Identification of targeted Qa-1 gene by PCR and Southern blot.
Figure 2: The response of Qa-1-deficient mice to HSV-1 (KOS) infection.
Figure 3: Induction of suppressive CD8 activity by SEA.
Figure 4: Protective effects of peptide preimmunization on the development of EAE.
Figure 5: Adoptive secondary anti-PLP responses.
Figure 6: T cell vaccination with OT-2 CD4 T cells induces suppressive CD8.

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Acknowledgements

We thank J. Horner and R.A. DePinho (Dana Farber Cancer Institute) and A. Sharpe (Brigham and Women's Hospital) for the expertise provided by their transgenic mouse facilities; S. Kissler for technical advice and assistance; and A. Angel for assistance with preparation of the manuscript and figures. Supported in part by National Institutes of Health (AI 13600, AI37562 and AI 48125 to H.C.; and AI 07386 to D.H.).

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  1. Dan Hu and Koichi Ikizawa: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cancer Immunology and AIDS, Department of Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Dan Hu, Koichi Ikizawa, Linrong Lu, Marie E Sanchirico, Mari L Shinohara & Harvey Cantor

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  1. Dan Hu
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Correspondence to Harvey Cantor.

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Hu, D., Ikizawa, K., Lu, L. et al. Analysis of regulatory CD8 T cells in Qa-1-deficient mice. Nat Immunol 5, 516–523 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni1063

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