Divergence between cytotoxic effector function and tumor necrosis factor alpha production for inflammatory CD4 T cells from mice with sendai virus pneumonia

Abstract

Sendai virus pneumonia in β2-microglobulin-deficient [β2-m(-/-)] mice lacking CD8+ T cells is characterized by the development of CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes that can be recovered directly from the respiratory tract. These CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes are not found in β2-m (+/+) mice, though inflammatory CD4+ T cells from both β2-m (-/-) and β2-m (+/+) mice produce substantial amounts of tumor necrosis factor alpha. Blocking experiments with a monoclonal antibody that also inhibits tumor necrosis factor beta show that the secreted forms of these two cytokines are not responsible for virus-specific killing of class II major histocompatibility complex-compatible targets. Comparison of electro..