Protective CD8 T Cell Memory Is Impaired during Chronic CD70-Driven Costimulation

Klaas P. J. M. van Gisbergen, Ronald W. van Olffen, Josine van Beek, Koenraad F. van der Sluijs, Ramon Arens, Martijn A. Nolte, Rene A. van Lier

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38 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Chronic infection results in continuous formation and exhaustion of effector CD8 T cells and in failure of memory CD8 T cell development. Expression of CD70 and other molecules that provide costimulation to T cells is maintained during chronic infection. To analyze the impact of constitutive CD70-driven costimulation, we generated transgenic mice expressing CD70 specifically on T cells. We show that CD70 promoted accumulation of CD8 T cells with characteristics strikingly similar to exhausted effector CD8 T cells found during chronic infection. CD70 on T cells provided costimulation that enhanced primary CD8 T cell responses against influenza. In contrast, memory CD8 T cell maintenance and protection against secondary challenge with influenza was impaired. Interestingly, we found no effect on the formation of either effector or memory CD4 T cells. We conclude that constitutive expression of CD70 is sufficient to deregulate the CD8 T cell differentiation pathway of acute infection reminiscent of events in chronic infection. The Journal of Immunology, 2009, 182: 5352-5362
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5352-5362
JournalJournal of immunology (Baltimore, Md.
Volume182
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

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