TY - JOUR
T1 - Antigen-independent memory CD8 T cells do not develop during chronic viral infection
AU - Wherry, E. John
AU - Barber, Daniel L.
AU - Kaech, Susan M.
AU - Blattman, Joseph N.
AU - Ahmed, Rafi
PY - 2004/11/9
Y1 - 2004/11/9
N2 - Memory T cells can persist for extended periods in the absence of antigen, and long-term T cell immunity is often seen after acute infections. Paradoxically, there have been observations suggesting that T cell memory may be antigen-dependent during chronic infections. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms we have compared memory CD8 T cell differentiation during an acute versus chronic infection by using the mouse model of infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. We found that during a chronic infection virus-specific CD8 T cells failed to acquire the cardinal memory T cell property of long-term antigen-independent persistence. These chronically stimulated CD8 T cells were unable to undergo homeostatic proliferation, responded poorly to IL-7 and IL-15, and expressed reduced levels of the IL-7 and IL-15 receptors, thus providing a possible mechanism for the inability of these cells to persist long term in the absence of antigen. In striking contrast, virus-specific memory CD8 T cells that developed after an acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection could persist without antigen, were capable of self-renewal because of homeostatic proliferation, responded efficiently to IL-7 and IL-15, and expressed high levels of receptors for these two cytokines. Thus, memory CD8 T cells generated after acute infections are likely to have a competitive advantage over CD8 T cells that develop during chronic infections. These findings raise concerns about using vaccines that may persist and also suggest that there may be limitations and challenges in designing effective immunological interventions for the treatment of chronic infections and tumors.
AB - Memory T cells can persist for extended periods in the absence of antigen, and long-term T cell immunity is often seen after acute infections. Paradoxically, there have been observations suggesting that T cell memory may be antigen-dependent during chronic infections. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms we have compared memory CD8 T cell differentiation during an acute versus chronic infection by using the mouse model of infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. We found that during a chronic infection virus-specific CD8 T cells failed to acquire the cardinal memory T cell property of long-term antigen-independent persistence. These chronically stimulated CD8 T cells were unable to undergo homeostatic proliferation, responded poorly to IL-7 and IL-15, and expressed reduced levels of the IL-7 and IL-15 receptors, thus providing a possible mechanism for the inability of these cells to persist long term in the absence of antigen. In striking contrast, virus-specific memory CD8 T cells that developed after an acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection could persist without antigen, were capable of self-renewal because of homeostatic proliferation, responded efficiently to IL-7 and IL-15, and expressed high levels of receptors for these two cytokines. Thus, memory CD8 T cells generated after acute infections are likely to have a competitive advantage over CD8 T cells that develop during chronic infections. These findings raise concerns about using vaccines that may persist and also suggest that there may be limitations and challenges in designing effective immunological interventions for the treatment of chronic infections and tumors.
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U2 - 10.1073/pnas.0407192101
DO - 10.1073/pnas.0407192101
M3 - Article
C2 - 15505208
AN - SCOPUS:8644268831
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 101
SP - 16004
EP - 16009
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IS - 45
ER -