Jalpha18^−/− mice have enhanced CD8⁺ T cell responses to tumor-derived antigen.

<p>(A) The frequency of tumor reactive CD8⁺ T cells was determined by staining with K^b/SIINFEKL tetramers. Staining was performed in the LN, spleen, and IHL 8 days after transplant of TBL-OVA tumor cells. (B) The number of K^b/SIINFEKL reactive CD8⁺ T cells was determined by flow cytometry. (n = 8–10 pooled from two experiments). (C) WT, J<b>alpha</b>18^−/−, and CD1d1^−/− mice were transplanted with 10⁵ TBL-OVA cells i.v. The number of K^b/SIINFEKL-tetramer reactive CD8⁺ T cells in the spleen was determined by flow cytometry (One representative of three similar experiments is shown. n = 4–5/group. The J<b>alpha</b>18^−/− and WT groups in this experiment are also included in panel E, as the controls for these experiment were combined). (D and E) WT and J<b>alpha</b>18^−/− mice were given either 10⁵ TBL-OVA tumor cells or 10⁵ peptide pulsed BMDC intravenously. Spleen cells were analyzed 8 days later for the presence of K^b/SIINFEKL tetramer reactive CD8⁺ T cells. The (D) frequency and (E) number of tetramer = CD8⁺ T cells is shown (n = 6–7 from two experiments). (F–G) The number of (F) K^b/SIINFEKL reactive CD8⁺ T cells and (G) lymphoma cells was determined 8 days after administration of 10⁵ TBL-OVA cells, 10⁵ SIINFEKL-pulsed BMDC, or SIINFEKL-pulsed BMDC in combination with either TBL-OVA or TBL-GFP lymphoma cells. ***p<.001, **p<.01, nd = not detected.