Activation status of the CD4-8- gamma delta-T cells recovered from mice with influenza pneumonia.

The role that gamma delta-T lymphocytes play in virus infections is yet to be defined. The TCR-gamma delta + cell population found late in the course of influenza pneumonia has been analyzed for ligand-dependent lytic function. These gamma delta-T cells are not constitutively cytotoxic when recovered directly from the site of virus-induced damage in the respiratory tract, although the TCR-alpha beta + population that is present concurrently contains such lytic effectors. Both sets of lymphocytes mediate cytotoxic activity after further in vitro stimulation in the presence of mAb to CD3 and low concentrations of rIL-2. Secondary stimulation in vivo with a cross-reactive influenza A virus does not lead to the emergence of a cytotoxic gamma delta-T cell population, although substantial numbers of these gamma delta-T cells express mRNA for a variety of lymphokines and cytokines. Analysis of DNA content indicates that many of the gamma delta-T cells isolated directly from the pneumonic lung are cycling. This could reflect continuing stimulation by a specific ligand, perhaps a self-component expressed at abnormally high levels in the site of virus-induced pathology. However, we could find no evidence to indicate that the gamma delta-T cells are acting to eliminate redundant components of the host response. The percentage of inflammatory macrophages and nonphagocytic cells expressing mRNA for a 65-kDa heat-shock protein (the proposed target for at least a subset of these gamma delta-T cells) is not reduced during the time that lymphocytes with mRNA for the TCR-gamma delta are present in greatest numbers. Possible alternative functions for the gamma delta-T cells are discussed.