Loss of IL-7R and IL-15R expression is associated with disappearance of memory T cells in respiratory tract following influenza infection

Ching Hung Shen, Qing Ge, Oezcan Talay, Herman N. Eisen, Adolfo García-Sastre, Jianzhu Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

Following influenza virus infection, memory CD8 T cells are found in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid organs, where they exhibit striking differences in survival. We have assessed persistence, phenotype, and function of memory CD8 T cells expressing the same TCR in the airways, lung parenchyma, and spleen following influenza virus infection in mice. In contrast to memory CD8 T cells in the spleen, those residing in the airways gradually lost expression of IL-7R and IL-15R, did not respond to IL-7 and/or IL-15, and exhibited poor survival both in vivo and in vitro. Following adoptive transfer into the airways, splenic memory CD8 T cells also down-regulated IL-7R and IL-15R expression and failed to undergo homeostatic proliferation. Thus, although cytokines IL-7 and IL-15 play an essential role in memory CD8 T cell homeostasis in lymphoid organs, the levels of IL-7R and IL-15R expression likely set a threshold for the homeostatic regulation of memory CD8 T cells in the airways. These findings provide a molecular explanation for the gradual loss of airway memory CD8 T cells and heterosubtypic immunity following influenza infection.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)171-178
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume180
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2008

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