title: Highly activated cytotoxic CD8 T cells express protective IL-10 at the peak of coronavirus-induced encephalitis.
abstract: Acute viral encephalitis requires rapid pathogen elimination without significant bystander tissue damage. In this article, we show that IL-10, a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine, is produced transiently at the peak of infection by CD8 T cells in the brains of coronavirus-infected mice. IL-10(+)CD8 and IL-10(-)CD8 T cells interconvert during acute disease, possibly based on recent Ag exposure. Strikingly, IL-10(+)CD8 T cells were more highly activated and cytolytic than IL-10(-)CD8 T cells, expressing greater levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as cytotoxic proteins. Even though these cells are highly proinflammatory, IL-10 expressed by these cells was functional. Furthermore, IL-10 produced by CD8 T cells diminished disease severity in mice with coronavirus-induced acute encephalitis, suggesting a self-regulatory mechanism that minimizes immunopathological changes.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trandem
authors.forename: Jingxian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perlman
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003333:Coronaviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation
chemical_list: C556062:IL10 protein, mouse; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016753:Interleukin-10