title: Type 1 interferon licenses naïve CD8 T cells to mediate anti-viral cytotoxicity.
abstract: Naïve T cells, unlike memory T cells, exhibit very limited effector function in response to cognate antigen, but exposure to type 1 interferon (IFN) prior to cognate antigen allows for rapid manifestation of effector functions. A full assessment of the functions of these IFN-sensitized otherwise naïve T cells has not been made, nor has their capacity to be effector cells in vivo. We describe here that IFN-sensitized naïve T cells in the absence of cognate antigen adopt a partial activated phenotype distinguished by the upregulation of the surface activation marker CD69, effector-associated transcription factors Eomes and IRF4, and cytotoxicity effector molecule granzyme B. IFN-sensitized naive T cells lysed target cells in vivo and responded to low concentrations and affinities of cognate ligands. We suggest that this rapid and sensitive effector function of IFN-conditioned naïve CD8 T cells may play a role in pathogen control and help ward off superinfections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, United States.
authors.forename: Stina L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, United States.
authors.forename: Leslie J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, United States. Electronic address: Raymond.Welsh@umassmed.edu.
authors.forename: Raymond M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Welsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000276:immunology; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D007370:Interferon Type I; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D011070:Poly I-C; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
keywords: Anti-viral, Cytotoxic T lymphocyte; Cytolytic; Effector; Interferon; Naïve CD8 T cell; Virus