CD4+8 help prevents rapid deletion of CD8+ cells after a transient response to antigen

Abstract
We have followed the fate of mature CD8+ T cells with a male‐specific transgenic T cell receptor after antigenic stimulation with hemopoietic cells in the absence or presence of help. Our data show that mature CD8+ T cells can be deleted after a 3‐week period of transient activation and that help, e.g. in the form of interleukin‐2, can considerably delay the deletion. These experiments have implications for the design of protocols aiming at the establishment of specific immunological tolerance in T cells.