CD160 Stimulates CD8⁺ T Cell Responses and Is Required for Optimal Protective Immunity to Listeria monocytogenes

CD160 promotes NK cell cytotoxicity and IFN-γ production, but the function of CD160 on CD8⁺ T cells remains unclear with some studies supporting a coinhibitory role and others a costimulatory role. In this study, we demonstrate that CD160 has a costimulatory role in promoting CD8⁺ T cell effector functions needed for optimal clearance of oral Listeria monocytogenes infection. CD160^-/- mice did not clear oral L. monocytogenes as efficiently as wild type (WT) littermates. WT RAG^-/- and CD160^-/- RAG^-/- mice similarly cleared L. monocytogenes, indicating that CD160 on NK cells does not contribute to impaired L. monocytogenes clearance. Defective L. monocytogenes clearance is due to compromised intraepithelial lymphocytes and CD8⁺ T cell functions. There was a reduction in the frequencies of granzyme B-expressing intraepithelial lymphocytes in L. monocytogenes-infected CD160^-/- mice as compared with WT littermate controls. Similarly, the frequencies of granzyme B-expressing splenic CD8⁺ T cells and IFN-γ and TNF-α double-producer CD8⁺ T cells were significantly reduced in L. monocytogenes-infected CD160^-/- mice compared with WT littermates. Adoptive transfer studies showed that RAG^-/- recipients receiving CD160^-/- CD8⁺ T cells had a higher mortality, exhibited more weight loss, and had a higher bacterial burden compared with RAG^-/- recipients receiving WT CD8⁺ T cells. These findings demonstrate that CD160 provides costimulatory signals to CD8⁺ T cells needed for optimal CD8⁺ T cell responses and protective immunity during an acute mucosal bacterial infection.