Characterization of two TCR transgenic mouse lines specific for herpes simplex virus

To better understand the T cell-mediated processes involved in the immune response to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, two HSV-specific T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mouse lines were produced. These mice (gBT-I.1 and gBT-I.3) are MHC class I-restricted and specific for the immunodominant peptide from HSV glycoprotein B (gB), gB_498-505. Although derived from the same clone, the mice differ in the chromosomal location of the TCR transgenes and show marked differences in TCR α/β expression on both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells in the thymus. Despite this, peripheral CD8⁺ T cells from both mice express equally high levels of the transgenic TCR and bind the K^bgB_498-505 tetramer to the same degree. In concordance with this, both were shown to respond equally well in vitro upon stimulation with the gB_498-505 peptide or HSV-infected cells. These data show that selection of broadly equivalent peripheral T-cell subsets can occur in the presence of distinctly different thymic T-cell subsets.