CD4+8- help prevents rapid deletion of CD8+ cells after a transient response to antigen.

We have followed the fate of mature CD8+ T cells with a male-specific transgenic T cell receptor after antigenic stimulation with hemopoietic cells in the absence or presence of help. Our data show that mature CD8+ T cells can be deleted after a 3-week period of transient activation and that help, e.g. in the form of interleukin-2, can considerably delay the deletion. These experiments have implications for the design of protocols aiming at the establishment of specific immunological tolerance in T cells.