Shutdown of an acute T cell immune response to viral infection is mediated by the proapoptotic Bcl-2 homology 3-only protein Bim

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Nov 25;100(24):14175-80. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2336198100. Epub 2003 Nov 17.

Abstract

We used mutant Fas-deficient (lpr) or Bim-deficient mice to investigate the role of the death receptor and Bcl-2-regulated apoptotic pathways in terminating a physiological T cell response to herpes simplex virus infection. In WT and lpr mice CD8+ antigen-specific T cells were deleted after viral clearance. In contrast, the immune response was not terminated in Bim-deficient mice despite viral clearance, and CD8+ antigen-specific T cells accumulated in the spleen. Thus, Bim is dispensable for viral clearance but is necessary for the death of activated T cells when immune responses are terminated. These findings have implications for the therapeutic manipulation of immune responses to infections and immunization.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / immunology*
  • Cell Division
  • Female
  • Herpes Simplex / immunology*
  • Herpes Simplex / pathology
  • Herpes Simplex / virology
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / isolation & purification
  • Interleukin-7 / pharmacology
  • Kinetics
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred MRL lpr
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins*
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / pathology

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • BCL2L11 protein, human
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Bcl2l11 protein, mouse
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Interleukin-7
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins