CD4(+) T cells are required for the development of cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
The control of acute and chronic Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is dependent on CD4(+) T cells. In a variety of systems CD8(+) T cell effector responses are dependent on CD4(+) T cell help. The development of CD8(+) T cell-mediated immune responses in the absence of CD4(+) T cells was investigated in a murine model of acute tuberculosis. In vitro and in vivo, priming of mycobacteria-specific CD8(+) T cells was unaffected by the absence of CD4(+) T cells. Infiltration of CD8(+) T cells into infected lungs of CD4(-/-) or wild-type mice was similar. IFN-gamma production by lung CD8(+) T cells in CD4(-/-) and wild-type mice was also comparable, suggesting that emergence of IFN-gamma-producing mycobacteria-specific CD8(+) T cells in the lungs was independent of CD4(+) T cell help. In contrast, cytotoxic activity of CD8(+) T cells from lungs of M. tuberculosis-infected mice was impaired in CD4(-/-) mice. Expression of mRNA for IL-2 and IL-15, cytokines critical for the development of cytotoxic effector cells, was diminished in the lungs of M. tuberculosis-infected CD4(-/-) mice. As tuberculosis is frequently associated with HIV infection and a subsequent loss of CD4(+) T cells, understanding the interaction between CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets during the immune response to M. tuberculosis is imperative for the design of successful vaccination strategies.
Serbina
N V
NV
Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Lazarevic
V
V
Flynn
J L
JL
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007700:Kinetics; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma