title: Evidence for a significant role of CD4+ T cells in adoptive immunity to Listeria monocytogenes in the liver.
abstract: Although the ability of CD8+ T cells to adoptively immunize mice against Listeria monocytogenes in the spleen is well established, the role of different T-cell subsets in anti-bacterial protection in the liver, a major target of Listeria infection, remains unclear. Therefore, the ability of sorted CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to adoptively immunize mice against a L. monocytogenes infection in the liver was studied. The results show that positively sorted CD4+ T cells from day 7 Listeria-immune mice were as effective as sorted CD8+ cells in transferring significant anti-Listeria protection in the liver. Similar findings were obtained when CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, negatively selected by antibody-induced complement-mediated depletion in vitro, were used for adoptive transfer. CD8+ T cells, however, were more efficient than CD4+ T cells in transferring protection in the spleen. Taken together, the results show that CD4+ T cells are at least as protective as CD8+ T cells against a L. monocytogenes infection in the liver, thereby arguing against the view that CD4+ T cells are of limited importance in adoptive immunity against listeriosis.
authors.affiliation: Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, New York.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rakhmilevich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000254:growth & development; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016827:CD8 Antigens