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Dendritic cells maximize the memory CD8 T cell response to infection

David J Zammit1, Linda S Cauley, Quynh-Mai Pham

  • 1Division of Immunology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.

Immunity
|May 17, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial for reactivating memory CD8 T cells during infections. Their interaction is a major mechanism driving T cell reactivation in vivo, even in tissue-specific infections.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Costimulatory signals from dendritic cells (DCs) are essential for naive T cell activation.
  • The role of DCs in reactivating memory T cells during recall responses remains largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the extent to which dendritic cells (DCs) reactivate memory CD8 T cells during recall responses to microbial infections.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an in vivo depletion system to analyze DC function.
  • Examined recall responses to vesicular stomatitis virus, Listeria monocytogenes, and influenza virus infections.

Main Results:

  • A significant decrease in responding memory CD8 T cells was observed in lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues.
  • This reduction occurred during recall responses to all three tested microbial infections.

Conclusions:

  • Dendritic cell interaction is a primary mechanism for T cell reactivation in vivo.
  • This mechanism is important even in tissue-specific infections, such as those affecting the respiratory tract.

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