The role of TCF-1+CD8+ exhausted progenitors and TCF-1 in graft-versus-host responses.

ABSTRACT: In allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation, donor αβ T cells attack recipient tissues, causing graft versus host disease (GVHD). A longstanding question has been how GVHD is maintained despite T cell exhaustion from chronic alloantigen stimulation. In other exhaustion models, CD8 responses are sustained by CD39loTim-3loToxhiTCF-1hi precursor exhausted T cells (TPEX). Here we characterize CD8+ TPEX in the B6(H-2b)→129(H-2b) GVHD model wherein responses against the minor histocompatibility antigen H60 can be tracked using MHCI-tetramers (TetH60). Early after transplant, TetH60+ CD8 cells were uniformly PD-1hiToxhi, whereas TetH60- cells also had PD-1loToxlo cells, indicative of more diverse antigen experiences. Among TetH60+ and TetH60- populations were CD39loTCF-1hi cells. Upon competitive

SUBMITTER: Quann K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12507345 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature