Antibody-independent antiviral function of memory CD4+ T cells in vivo requires regulatory signals from CD8+ effector T cells

J Immunol. 2001 Aug 1;167(3):1379-86. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.167.3.1379.

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that vaccine-primed CD4(+) T cells can mediate accelerated clearance of respiratory virus infection. However, the relative contributions of Ab and CD8(+) T cells, and the mechanism of viral clearance, are poorly understood. Here we show that control of a Sendai virus infection by primed CD4(+) T cells is mediated through the production of IFN-gamma and does not depend on Ab. This effect is critically dependent on CD8(+) cells for the expansion of CD4(+) T cells in the lymph nodes and the recruitment of memory CD4(+) T cells to the lungs. Passive transfer of a CD8(+) T cell supernatant into CD8(+) T cell-depleted, hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN)(421-436)-immune muMT mice substantially restored the virus-specific memory CD4(+) response and enhanced viral control in the lung. Together, the data demonstrate for the first time that in vivo primed CD4(+) T cells have the capacity to control a respiratory virus infection in the lung by an Ab-independent mechanism, provided that CD8(+) T cell "help" in the form of soluble factor(s) is available during the virus infection. These studies highlight the importance of synergistic interactions between CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets in the generation of optimal antiviral immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / physiology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cell-Free System / immunology
  • Cell-Free System / metabolism
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Female
  • HN Protein / immunology*
  • Immunization, Passive
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Interferon-gamma / physiology
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / virology
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Depletion
  • Male
  • Mesentery
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Peptide Fragments / administration & dosage
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Respirovirus / immunology*
  • Respirovirus Infections / genetics
  • Respirovirus Infections / immunology
  • Respirovirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Respirovirus Infections / virology
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / virology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • Viral Load
  • Viral Vaccines / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • HN Protein
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Viral Vaccines
  • Interferon-gamma