pMDM100-specific CD8⁺ T cells from Ag^pos mice display reduced functional avidity.

<p>(A) Splenocytes from Ag^neg mice and Ag^pos mice were stimulated with RMA-S cells coated with titrated concentrations of pMDM100 peptide or an irrelevant control peptide, pSV9, in the presence of 10 U/ml IL-2. After 72 hours, 50 µl of culture supernatant was harvested and IFN-γ was measured by ELISA. Data represent mean±SD of triplicate values. IFN-γ produced in response to RMA-S loaded with pSV9 was subtracted from all values. Data are representative of two independent experiments. (B) To measure antigen specific proliferation, splenocytes from Ag^neg mice (black squares) and Ag^pos mice (grey circles) were stimulated with RMA-S cells coated with titrated concentrations of pMDM100 peptide or an irrelevant control peptide, pSV9, in the presence of 10 U/ml IL-2 for 2 days, and then pulsed with 0.5 µCi ³[H]-thymidine for 24 hours. The maximal proliferative response by splenocytes from the Ag^neg and Ag^pos mice was 130480.2±9552.9 CPM and 56225.17±2794.9 CPM (triplicate values), respectively.