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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Dissecting Innate Immune Signaling in Viral Evasion of Cytokine Production
Published on: March 2, 2014
Mononucleosis and antigen-driven T cell responses have different requirements for interleukin-2 signaling in murine
Michael Molloy1, Weijun Zhang, Edward Usherwood
1Dartmouth Medical School, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
Abstract:
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been implicated as being necessary for the optimal formation of primary CD8(+) T cell responses against various pathogens. Here we have examined the role that IL-2 signaling plays in several aspects of a CD8(+) T cell response against murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68). Exposure to MHV-68 causes a persistent infection, along with infectious mononucleosis, providing a model for studying these processes in mice. Our study indicates that CD25 is necessary for optimal expansion of the antigen-specific CD8(+) T cell response but not for the long-term memory response. Contrastingly, IL-2 signaling through CD25 is absolutely required for CD8(+) T cell mononucleosis.
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