Female lymphocytes strongly recognize the CD4 antigen DBY and the CD8 antigen SPAS-1.

<p>A) Immunization of females with TRAMP-GMCSF cells produces augmented CD4 responses against DBY and CD8 responses against SPAS-1. Male and female B6 mice were injected intradermally with 1×10⁶ irradiated TRAMP-GMCSF at days −9, −6, and −3 prior to sacrifice. CD4+ and CD8+ splenocytes were purified with magnetic beads and restimulated with CD11c+ female splenic DCs pulsed with the indicated peptide, or alternatively were stimulated with anti-CD3ε/anti-CD28 beads, or with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and ionomycin. Supernatant concentrations of IFN-γ and other cytokines were assayed by BD cytometric bead array. Results of a single experiment. B) DNA vaccination with SPAS-1 produces immune responses in male mice adoptively transferred with female lymphocytes. Male B6 mice were given 6 Gy irradiation followed by male or female adoptive lymphocyte transfer. Mice were vaccinated by gene gun with SPAS-1-expressing DNA plasmids on days 1, 7, and 13 following adoptive transfer. On day 19, splenocytes were incubated with or without the SPAS-1 and DBY peptides, and production of IFN-γ by CD4 and CD8 T cells was evaluated by intracellular flow cytometry. Results of a single experiment.