Qa-2–Dependent Selection of Cd8α/α T Cell Receptor α/β+ Cells in Murine Intestinal Intraepithelial Lymphocytes

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Abstract
Murine intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIELs) are made up of a heterogeneous mix of T cells with unique phenotypes. Whereas CD8+ T cells in peripheral lymphoid organs use CD8α/β and are selected on MHC class Ia molecules, a majority of iIELs use CD8α/α. Here, we report that the presence of CD8α/α TCR-α/β cells in iIELs is independent of classical MHC class I molecules Kb and Db, as illustrated by their presence in Kb/Db double-knockout mice and in mice lacking a nonclassical MHC class I molecule, CD1d. Most strikingly, their presence is decreased by ∼70% in mice lacking transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). The TAP-dependent nonclassical MHC class I molecule Qa-2 is strongly implicated in the presence of these cells, as inferred from the low numbers of CD8α/α TCR-α/β T cells in mice deficient in Qa-2 genes. Second, a Qa-2–transgenic mouse made in a Qa-2− strain showed an increase in the numbers of CD8α/α cells among its iIELs. Thus, the presence of CD8α/α TCR-α/β cells in iIELs is mainly dependent on the nonclassical MHC class I molecule Qa-2.

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