title: Selective accumulation of differentiated CD8+ T cells specific for respiratory viruses in the human lung.
abstract: The lungs are frequently challenged by viruses, and resident CD8(+) T cells likely contribute to the surveillance of these pathogens. To obtain insight into local T cell immunity to respiratory viruses in humans, we determined the specificity, phenotype, and function of lung-residing CD8(+) T cells and peripheral blood CD8(+) T cells in a paired analysis. The lung contained markedly higher frequencies of influenza (FLU)-specific and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-specific CD8(+) T cells when compared with the circulation. This contrasted with an equal distribution of cytomegalovirus- and Epstein-Bar virus-specific CD8(+) T cells. Noticeably, a substantial fraction of the lung-residing FLU- and RSV-specific CD8(+) T cells had progressed to a relatively late differentiation phenotype, reflected by low expression of CD28 and CD27. Lung-derived FLU-specific CD8(+) T cells had low activation requirements, as expansion of these cells could be initiated by cognate peptide in the absence of helper cell-derived signals. Thus, the human lung contains high numbers of differentiated FLU- and RSV-specific memory CD8(+) T cells that can readily expand upon reexposure to virus. Resident lung T cells may provide immediate immunological protection against pulmonary virus infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands. g.j.debree@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Godelieve J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: de Bree
authors.forename: Ester M M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: Theo A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Out
authors.forename: Henk M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: René E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Jonkers
authors.forename: René A W
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: van Lier
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte