Critical role for perforin-, Fas/FasL-, and TNFR1-mediated cytotoxic pathways in down-regulation of antigen-specific T cells during persistent viral infection.
Viral persistence following infection with invasive strains of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) can be achieved by selective down-regulation of virus-specific T lymphocytes. High viral burden in the onset of infection drives responding cells into functional unresponsiveness (anergy) that can be followed by their physical elimination. In this report, we studied down-regulation of the virus-specific CD8(+)-T-cell response during persistent infection of adult mice with LCMV, with emphasis on the role of perforin-, Fas/FasL-, or tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1)-mediated cytolysis in regulating T-cell homeostasis. The results reveal that the absence of perforin, Fas-ligand, or TNFR1 has no significant effect on the kinetics of proliferation and functional inactivation of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells in the onset of chronic LCMV infection. However, these molecules play a critical role in the homeostatic regulation of T cells, influencing the longevity of the virus-specific CD8(+)-T-cell population once it has become anergic. Thus, CD8(+) T cells specific to the dominant LCMV NP(396-404) epitope persist in an anergic state for at least 70 days in perforin-, FasL-, or TNFR1-deficient mice, but they were eliminated by day 30 in C57BL/6 controls. These effects were additive as shown by a deficit of apoptotic death of NP(396-404) peptide-specific CD8(+) T cells in mice lacking both perforin and TNFR1. This suggests a role for perforin-, FasL-, and TNFR1-mediated pathways in down-regulation of the antiviral T cell response during persistent viral infection by determining the fate of antigen-specific T cells. Moreover, virus-specific anergic CD8(+) T cells in persistently infected C57BL/6 mice contain higher levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL than functionally intact T cells generated during acute LCMV infection. In the case of proapoptotic factors, Bax expression did not differ between T-cell populations and Bad was below the limit of detection in all samples. As expression of the Bcl-2 family members controls susceptibility to apoptosis, this finding may provide a molecular basis for the survival of anergic cells under conditions of prolonged antigen stimulation.
Zhou
Shenghua
S
Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA.
Ou
Rong
R
Huang
Lei
L
Moskophidis
Demetrius
D
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; C494827:Bax protein, mouse; C494812:Bcl2l1 protein, mouse; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D054353:Perforin