Waking up T cells to counteract chronic infections.
Memory T-cell responses generated in chronic viral infections can show functional defects contributing to poor viral control. Recently, signaling through the PD-1 receptor on CD8+ T cells was shown to cause cells to express an exhausted phenotype in an animal model of chronic infection. By blocking the interaction of PD-1 with its ligand PD-L1, virus-specific CD8+ T cells exhibited expansion and improved infection control. This approach could prove valuable to manage chronic infections.
Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-0845, USA.
Barry T
BT
Rouse
David
D
Masopust
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins