Attrition of virus-specific memory CD8+ T cells during reconstitution of lymphopenic environments

CD Peacock, SK Kim, RM Welsh - The Journal of Immunology, 2003 - journals.aai.org
The Journal of Immunology, 2003journals.aai.org
Viruses can cause a severe lymphopenia early in infection and a subsequent, lasting loss of
pre-existing CD8+ memory T cells. We therefore questioned how well virus Ag-specific
memory CD8+ T cells could reconstitute mice rendered lymphopenic as a consequence of
genetics, irradiation, or viral or poly (I: C)-induced cytokines. In each case, reconstitution of
the CD8+ compartment was associated with limited division of virus-specific memory T cells
and a reduction in their proportion. This indicates that foreign Ag-experienced CD44 high …
Abstract
Viruses can cause a severe lymphopenia early in infection and a subsequent, lasting loss of pre-existing CD8+ memory T cells. We therefore questioned how well virus Ag-specific memory CD8+ T cells could reconstitute mice rendered lymphopenic as a consequence of genetics, irradiation, or viral or poly (I: C)-induced cytokines. In each case, reconstitution of the CD8+ compartment was associated with limited division of virus-specific memory T cells and a reduction in their proportion. This indicates that foreign Ag-experienced CD44 high CD8+ memory T cells may respond differently to homeostatic signals than other CD44 high CD8+ cells, and that events inducing lymphopenia may lead to a permanent reduction in T cell memory.
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