Characterization of respiratory syncytial virus M- and M2-specific CD4 T cells in a murine model

CD4 T cells have been shown to play an important role in the immunity and immunopathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. We identified two novel CD4 T-cell epitopes in the RSV M and M2 proteins with core sequences M(213-223) (FKYIKPQSQFI) and M2(27-37) (YFEWPPHALLV). Peptides containing the epitopes stimulated RSV-specific CD4 T cells to produce gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), interleukin 2 (IL-2), and other Th1- and Th2-type cytokines in an I-A(b)-restricted pattern. Construction of fluorochrome-conjugated peptide-I-A(b) class II tetramers revealed RSV M- and M2-specific CD4 T-cell responses in RSV-infected mice in a hierarchical pattern. Peptide-activated CD4 T cells from lungs were more activated and differentiated, and had greater IFN-gamma expression, than CD4 T cells from the spleen, which, in contrast, produced greater levels of IL-2. In addition, M(209-223) peptide-activated CD4 T cells reduced IFN-gamma and IL-2 production in M- and M2-specific CD8 T-cell responses to D(b)-M(187-195) and K(d)-M2(82-90) peptides more than M2(25-39) peptide-stimulated CD4 T cells. This correlated with the fact that I-A(b)-M(209-223) tetramer-positive cells responding to primary RSV infection had a much higher frequency of FoxP3 expression than I-A(b)-M2(26-39) tetramer-positive CD4 T cells, suggesting that the M-specific CD4 T-cell response has greater regulatory function. Characterization of epitope-specific CD4 T cells by novel fluorochrome-conjugated peptide-I-A(b) tetramers allows detailed analysis of their roles in RSV pathogenesis and immunity.