Impaired Trypanosoma cruzi-specific IFN-gamma secretion by T cells bearing the BV9 T-cell receptor is associated with local IL-10 production in non-lymphoid tissues of chronically infected mice.

The role of non-lymphoid tissue T cells expressing the BV9 family T-cell receptor (TCRBV9) was studied in mice chronically infected with the Trypanosoma cruzi. Heart and skeletal muscles had higher frequencies and ratios of CD8+ TCRBV9+ to CD4+ TCRBV9+ T cells than lymph nodes. Also, homing experiments of CFSE-labeled T cells showed preferential homing of TCRBV9+ T cells to heart tissue.