Impact of Social Confrontation on Rat CD4 T Cells Bearing Different CD45R Isoforms

• Published in: Brain, behavior, and immunity Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 364 - 379
• Main Authors: Stefanski, Volker, Solomon, George F., Kling, Arthur S., Thomas, John, Plaeger, Susan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.12.1996
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Count; Female; Leukocytes - metabolism; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Male; Rats; Social Environment; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism
• ISSN: 0889-1591; 1090-2139
• DOI: 10.1006/brbi.1996.0032

The impact of social defeat on lymphocyte subpopulations and T helper subsets was investigated in Long Evans rats. CD4 T helper cell subsets with distinct functional properties and different cytokine profiles can be distinguished by using the mAbs OX-22 (anti-CD45RC) and OX-7 (anti-CD90, Thy1.1). Male intruders were exposed for 2, 6, or 48 h to aggressive resident pairs. All intruders were attacked upon introduction and were defeated as indicated by frequent display of full submissive postures. After 2 and 48 h of confrontation, drastic but differential effects on blood leukocyte numbers, CD4 and CD8a cells, and CD4 subsets were evident. However, after 6 h of confrontation most lymphocyte subset numbers corresponded to baseline levels. Focusing on CD4 subsets after 2 h of confrontation, we demonstrated that only the number of the CD45RC−CD90−subset declines, whereas neither the number of the CD45RC+CD90−subset nor the number of the CD45RC−CD90+subset (recent thymic emigrants) was influenced. Con A stimulation of sorted subsets identified the CD45RC−CD90−as a poor producer of IFN-γ. The data clearly demonstrate that social factors might differentially influence not only T cell subsets but also T helper cell subsets with distinct cytokine profiles in a possibly time-dependent manner. Such a stress-induced shift toward a CD45RC+CD90−-dominated milieu may have important consequences in interpreting results obtained from mitogenic stimulation of blood lymphocytes and cytokine production profiles measured after such a stimulation. In addition, a shift toward a CD45RC+CD90−dominance may modify the type and magnitude of immune response, at least temporarily.