title: Cutting edge: activation of virus-specific CD4 T cells throughout γ-herpesvirus latency.
abstract: CD4 T cells are essential for immune control of γ-herpesvirus latency. We previously identified a murine MHC class II-restricted epitope in γ-herpesvirus-68 gp150 (gp150(67-83)I-A(b)) that elicits CD4 T cells that are maintained throughout long-term infection. However, it is unknown whether naive cells can be recruited into the antiviral CD4 T cell pool during latency. In this study, we generate a mouse transgenic for a gp150-specific TCR and show epitope-specific activation of transgenic CD4 T cells during acute and latent infections. Furthermore, although only dendritic cells can stimulate virus-specific CD8 T cells during latency, we show that both dendritic cells and B cells stimulate transgenic CD4 T cells. These studies demonstrate that naive CD4 T cells specific for a viral glycoprotein can be stimulated throughout infection, even during quiescent latency, suggesting that CD4 T cell memory is maintained in part by the continual recruitment of naive cells.
authors.affiliation: Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Burkum
authors.forename: Kathleen G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Lanzer
authors.forename: Meghan K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Mushtaq
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Yager
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flaño
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Winslow
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Woodland
authors.forename: Marcia A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Blackman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D018144:Rhadinovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
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