Self heat shock and gamma delta T-cell reactivity.

Abstract

We have investigated the effects of heat shock on T-cell induction and selection in vitro. We find that when cell preparations containing T lymphocytes are incubated for 30 min at 42.degree.C, a selective proliferation of .gamma..delta.+ T cells bearing the .gamma..delta. T-cell antigen receptor follows. A greater enrichment of .gamma..delta.+ T cells is observed, upon preexposure to mycobacterial antigens in vivo. By comparing the effects of heat shock with that of mitogen or specific T-cell triggering by conventional antigens and by analyzing the .gamma..delta. T-cell receptor genes expressed in cells that proliferate as a result of heat shock induction, we conclude that a subset of murine .gamma..delta. T cells react to antigens on self cells in which a heat shock response was induced.