Effective control of chronic gamma-herpesvirus infection by unconventional MHC Class Ia-independent CD8 T cells.
Control of virus infection is mediated in part by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class Ia presentation of viral peptides to conventional CD8 T cells. Although important, the absolute requirement for MHC Class Ia-dependent CD8 T cells for control of chronic virus infection has not been formally demonstrated. We show here that mice lacking MHC Class Ia molecules (K(b-/-)xD(b-/-) mice) effectively control chronic gamma-herpesvirus 68 (gammaHV68) infection via a robust expansion of beta2-microglobulin (beta2-m)-dependent, but CD1d-independent, unconventional CD8 T cells. These unconventional CD8 T cells expressed: (1) CD8alphabeta and CD3, (2) cell surface molecules associated with conventional effector/memory CD8 T cells, (3) TCRalphabeta with a significant Vbeta4, Vbeta3, and Vbeta10 bias, and (4) the key effector cytokine interferon-gamma (IFNgamma). Unconventional CD8 T cells utilized a diverse TCR repertoire, and CDR3 analysis suggests that some of that repertoire may be utilized even in the presence of conventional CD8 T cells. This is the first demonstration to our knowledge that beta2-m-dependent, but Class Ia-independent, unconventional CD8 T cells can efficiently control chronic virus infection, implicating a role for beta2-n-dependent non-classical MHC molecules in control of chronic viral infection. We speculate that similar unconventional CD8 T cells may be able to control of other chronic viral infections, especially when viruses evade immunity by inhibiting generation of Class Ia-restricted T cells.
Braaten
Douglas C
DC
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
McClellan
James Scott
JS
Messaoudi
Ilhem
I
Tibbetts
Scott A
SA
McClellan
Kelly B
KB
Nikolich-Zugich
Janko
J
Virgin
Herbert W
HW
D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018142:Gammaherpesvirinae; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin