High numbers of IL-2-producing CD8+ T cells during viral infection: correlation with stable memory development.
Using infections with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and vesicular stomatitis virus in mice as model systems, we have investigated the ability of antigen-primed CD8+ T cells generated in the context of viral infections to produce IL-2. Our results indicate that acute immunizing infection normally leads to generation of high numbers of IL-2-producing antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. By costaining for IL-2 and IFN-gamma intracellularly, we found that IL-2-producing cells predominantly constitute a subset of cells also producing IFN-gamma. Comparison of the kinetics of generation revealed that IL-2-producing cells appear slightly delayed compared with the majority of IFN-gamma producing cells, and the relative frequency of the IL-2-producing subset increases with transition into the memory phase. In contrast to acute immunizing infection, few IL-2-producing cells are generated during chronic LCMV infection. Furthermore, in MHC class II-deficient mice, which only transiently control LCMV infection, IL-2-producing CD8+ T cells are initially generated, but by 4 weeks after infection this subset has nearly disappeared. Eventually the capacity to produce IFN-gamma also becomes impaired, while cell numbers are maintained at a level similar to those in wild-type mice controlling the infection. Taken together, these findings indicate that phenotyping of T cell populations based on capacity to produce cytokines, and especially IL-2, can provide important information as to the functional status of the analysed cell subset. Specifically, combined analysis of the capacity to produce IL-2 and IFN-gamma can be used as a predictor for loss of function within the CD8+ T cell compartment.
Kristensen
Nanna Ny
NN
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Copenhagen, The Panum Institute, 3C Blegdamsvej, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark1.
Christensen
Jan Pravsgaard
JP
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Copenhagen, The Panum Institute, 3C Blegdamsvej, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark1.
Thomsen
Allan Randrup
AR
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Copenhagen, The Panum Institute, 3C Blegdamsvej, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark1.
D000818:Animals; D001117:Arenaviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018353:Rhabdoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000276:immunology
D007376:Interleukin-2