Naive antiviral CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell division has a lag phase of 2–3 days.

Abstract

<p>Equal numbers of CFSE-labeled P14 cells (TcR-transgenic CD8⁺ T cells specific for LCMV GP_33–41, expressing Thy1.1) and CFSE-labeled SMARTA cells (TcR transgenic CD4⁺ T cells specific for LCMV GP_61–80, expressing Ly5a) were pooled, and inoculated into wildtype C57BL/6 mice, which then were infected with LCMV. A. At the indicated times after infection, each donor population was identified by flow cytometry (ovals). B. The numbers of P14 and SMARTA T cells in the spleen are shown (mean±SE) at the indicated times after infection (two separate experiments, two mice per experiment). C. After gating to identify the P14 or the SMARTA T cells, the histograms show these cells' CFSE fluorescence. Note that both T cell subsets begin proliferating at the same time (day 3).</p