Acquisition of selectin binding and peripheral homing properties by CD4(+)and CD8(+) T cells

Different T cell subsets exhibit distinct capacities to migrate into periph eral sites inflammation, and this may in part reflect differential expressi on of homing receptors and chemokine receptors. Using an adoptive transfer approach, we examined the ability of functionally distinct subsets of T cel ls to home to a peripheral inflammatory site. The data directly demonstrate the inability of naive T cells and the ability of effector cells to home t o inflamed peritoneum. Furthermore, interleukin (IL)-12 directs the differe ntiation of either CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells into effector populations that expresses functional E- and P-selectin ligand and that are preferentially r ecruited into the inflamed peritoneum compared with T cells differentiated in the presence of IL-4. Recruitment can be blocked by anti-E- and -P-selec tin antibodies. The presence of antigen in the peritoneum promotes local pr oliferation of recruited T cells, and significantly amplifies the Th1 polar ization of the lymphocytic infiltrate. Preferential recruitment of Th1 cell s into the peritoneum is also seen when cytokine response gene 2 (CRG-2)/in terferon gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) is used as the sole inflammator y stimulus. We have also found that P-selectin binds only to antigen-specif ic T cells in draining lymph nodes after immunization, implying that both a ntigen- and cytokine-mediated signals are required for expression of functi onal selectin-ligand.