CYTOKINE-INDUCED DIFFERENTIATION OF PRECURSOR MOUSE CD8(+) T-CELLS INTO CYTOTOXIC CD8(+) T-CELLS SECRETING TH1 OR TH2 CYTOKINES

Alloantigen-stimulated CD8(+) mouse spleen cells, either spontaneously or in the presence of IL-12 or IFN gamma plus anti-IL-4, differentiate into CD8(+) T cells secreting a Th1-like cytokine pattern (IL-2 and IFN gamma). IL-4 induced differentiation into CD8(+) T cells secreting Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10), whereas anti-IFN gamma suppressed the development of CD8(+) cells secreting lFN gamma. Clones of IL-4- or IFN gamma-producing CD8(+) T cells were relatively stable, as IL-4 or IFN gamma did not cause interconversion of committed CD8(+) T cells. Both CD8(+) subsets were cytotoxic, failed to provide cognate help for B cell antibody production, and remained CD4(-), CD8 alpha(+)CD8 beta(+). We propose the names TC1 and TC2 for cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells secreting Th1-like and Th2-like cytokines, respectively.