NAIVE T-CELLS CAN MEDIATE DELAYED-TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY RESPONSE IN T-CELL RECEPTOR TRANSGENIC MICE

We produced transgenic mice expressing T cell receptor-alpha beta chai n genes, derived from the chicken ovalbumin (OVA)-specific I-A(d)-rest ricted CD4(+)CD8(-) T helper cell clone 7-3-7. In transgenic mice with H-2(d) genetic background (Tg-d mice), delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was induced in the hind footpad by one inoculation with OVA with out any previous sensitization, suggesting that naive T cells have the potential to be involved in DTH response. Spleen cells from nonimmuni zed Tg-d mice showed a strong T cell proliferative response to in vitr o stimulation with OVA. Furthermore, these spleen cells produce cytoki nes including interleukin(IL)-2, IL-3, interferon-gamma, granulocyte/m acrophage colony-stimulating factor, macrophage inflammatory protein ( MIP)-1 alpha and MTP-1 beta, which may play an important role in the a ttraction of mononuclear cells to an antigen-challenging site.