Effects of oleic acid on murine CD4+ T cell death and anti-CD3 or superantigen induced proliferation at low temperature.

Abstract Studies were conducted to examine the effects of low, yet physiologically relevant, temperatures on murine T lymphocyte responses. Akin to ectothermic vertebrate responses, lectin-induced murine T cell proliferation was previously shown to be ablated at temperatures 10 °C below optimal (i.e. 27 °C); responsiveness at 27 °C was restored by the addition of oleic acid (18:1). The aim of the present study was to address the mechanism involved in such low temperature suppression. Murine splenic CD4 + T lymphocytes stimulated with either αCD3 or SEB exhibited cell death, as opposed to anergy, at 27 °C. However proliferation was observed in the presence of 18:1. Thus low temperature-suppression of murine CD4 + T cells is also mediated through TCR and/or CD3 pathways. Additional studies examining the temporal effects of adding 18:1, as well as temperature shifts, indicated that the cell death induced by stimulation at low temperature was preventable by 18:1.