Unexpected prolonged presentation of influenza antigens promotes CD4 T cell memory generation.
The kinetics of presentation of influenza virus-derived antigens (Ags), resulting in CD4 T cell effector and memory generation, remains undefined. Naive influenza-specific CD4 T cells were transferred into mice at various times after influenza infection to determine the duration and impact of virus-derived Ag presentation. Ag-specific T cell responses were generated even when the donor T cells were transferred 3-4 wk after viral clearance. Transfer of naive CD4 T cells during early phases of infection resulted in a robust expansion of highly differentiated effectors, which then contracted to a small number of memory T cells. Importantly, T cell transfer during later phases of infection resulted in a modest expansion of effectors with intermediate phenotypes, which were capable of persisting as memory with high efficiency. Thus, distinct stages of pathogen-derived Ag presentation may provide a mechanism by which T cell heterogeneity is generated and diverse memory subsets are maintained.
Jelley-Gibbs
Dawn M
DM
Trudeau Institute Inc., Saranac Lake, NY 12983, USA. djgibbs@trudeauinstitute.org
Brown
Deborah M
DM
Dibble
John P
JP
Haynes
Laura
L
Eaton
Sheri M
SM
Swain
Susan L
SL
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D000939:Epitopes; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005452:Fluoresceins; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D013388:Succinimides
C087165:5-(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D005452:Fluoresceins; D013388:Succinimides