CD4(+) T cell vaccination overcomes defective cross-presentation of fungal antigens in a mouse model of chronic granulomatous disease

J Clin Invest. 2012 May;122(5):1816-31. doi: 10.1172/JCI60862. Epub 2012 Apr 23.

Abstract

Aspergillus fumigatus is a model fungal pathogen and a common cause of infection in individuals with the primary immunodeficiency chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Although primarily considered a deficiency of innate immunity, CGD is also linked to dysfunctional T cell reactivity. Both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells mediate vaccine-induced protection from experimental aspergillosis, but the molecular mechanisms leading to the generation of protective immunity and whether these mechanisms are dysregulated in individuals with CGD have not been determined. Here, we show that activation of either T cell subset in a mouse model of CGD is contingent upon the nature of the fungal vaccine, the involvement of distinct innate receptor signaling pathways, and the mode of antigen routing and presentation in DCs. Aspergillus conidia activated CD8(+) T cells upon sorting to the Rab14(+) endosomal compartment required for alternative MHC class I presentation. Cross-priming of CD8(+) T cells failed to occur in mice with CGD due to defective DC endosomal alkalinization and autophagy. However, long-lasting antifungal protection and disease control were successfully achieved upon vaccination with purified fungal antigens that activated CD4(+) T cells through the endosome/lysosome pathway. Our study thus indicates that distinct intracellular pathways are exploited for the priming of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells to A. fumigatus and suggests that CD4(+) T cell vaccination may be able to overcome defective antifungal CD8(+) T cell memory in individuals with CGD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities
  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Fungal / immunology*
  • Aspergillosis / immunology
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cross-Priming*
  • DNA Helicases / deficiency
  • DNA Helicases / genetics
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / physiology
  • Female
  • Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / immunology*
  • Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / microbiology
  • Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / pathology
  • Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / therapy
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • NADPH Oxidase 2
  • NADPH Oxidases / metabolism
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / therapeutic use
  • Phagocytosis
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spores, Fungal / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism
  • Vaccination*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens, Fungal
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Cybb protein, mouse
  • NADPH Oxidase 2
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities
  • DNA Helicases
  • RUVBL2 protein, mouse