Analyzing the distribution of cells expressing mRNA for T cell receptor γ and δ chains in a virus-induced inflammatory process

Abstract

Acute inflammatory processes are extremely complex, containing sets of activated cells that may be difficult to categorize. The interface between two methodologies for characterizing the involvement of γδ T cells, in situ hybridization to detect T cell receptor (TCR) mRNA and flow cytometric analysis of surface TCR expression, is utilized here to study the pneumonia caused by intranasal (i.n.) infection of mice with influenza A viruses. Substantial numbers of cells expressing mRNA for the γ and δ TCR chains are present in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) populations obtained either late in the course of primary infection with an H3N2 virus or within a few days of secondary challenge with an H1N1..