title: IL-15 independent maintenance of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells in the CNS during chronic infection.
abstract: The role of IL-15 in T cell survival was examined during chronic CNS coronavirus infection. Similar numbers of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells were retained in the CNS of IL-15(-/-) and wt mice, consistent with loss of IL-2/15 receptor (CD122) expression. IL-15 deficiency also had no affect on IL-7 receptor (CD127) expression, Bcl-2 upregulation, granzyme B expression, or IFN-gamma secretion in CNS persisting CD8(+) T cells. Furthermore, CD8(+) T cell division in the CNS was reduced compared to spleen. CD8(+) T cells in the persistently infected CNS are thus characterized by IL-15 independent, low level proliferation and an activated/memory phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Stohlman
authors.forename: Gabriel I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: Cornelia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bergmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D020805:Central Nervous System Viral Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D053804:Granzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D053646:Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C508022:Il2rb protein, mouse; D019409:Interleukin-15; D053646:Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D053804:Granzymes