Characterization of a subset of antigen-specific human central memory CD4+ T lymphocytes producing effector cytokines

Human Cytomegalovirus pUL11, a CD45 Ligand, Disrupts CD4 T Cell Control of Viral Spread in Epithelial Cells

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes numerous immunomodulatory genes that facilitate its persistence. Previously described mechanisms by which HCMV avoids T cell control typically involve evasion of detection by infected cells. Here, we show that the virus also inhibits T cells directly via an interaction between the pUL11 glycoprotein on infected cells and the CD45 phosphatase on T cells. The antiviral functions of CD4 T cells are impaired as a result of this interaction, largely via induced interleukin 10 (IL-10) secretion in the CD4 T cell central memory compartment, resulting in enhanced viral spread. This establishes CD45 as an inhibitory receptor that regulates antiviral T cell functions and has parallels with the manipulation of natural killer (NK) cells by HCMV. By coculturing donor T cells with HCMV-infected epithelial cells, we observed that CD4 T cells can respond to epithelial cell antigen presentation and can control HCMV spread via cytolytic and cytokine-dependent mechanisms. pUL11 impairs both mechanisms. We showed that pUL11-induced IL-10 secretion requires IL-2, mTOR, and T cell receptor signaling. This characterization of the effects of the pUL11-CD45 interaction may allow for the development of new antiviral therapies and treatments for inflammatory disorders. IMPORTANCE Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is adept at avoiding its host's immune defenses, both by evading detection and by directly inhibiting immune cells. This can lead to a loss of control of the infection, and dangerous disease can result, particularly in cases in which an individual's immune system is immature, weak, or suppressed. T cells form a crucial part of the response to HCMV and are used in cellular HCMV therapies. We show that an interaction between a viral glycoprotein (pUL11) and a T cell surface receptor (CD45) impairs T cell memory functions and allows for increased viral spread. This defines a new immunomodulatory strategy for the virus as well as a new T cell regulatory mechanism. These results are important, as they increase our understanding of how T cells function and how HCMV disrupts them. This will allow for the development of new antiviral therapies that restore T cell functions and indicates a new target for controlling pathological T cell disorders.

Killer-like receptors and GPR56 progressive expression defines cytokine production of human CD4+ memory T cells

All memory T cells mount an accelerated response on antigen reencounter, but significant functional heterogeneity is present within the respective memory T-cell subsets as defined by CCR7 and CD45RA expression, thereby warranting further stratification. Here we show that several surface markers, including KLRB1, KLRG1, GPR56, and KLRF1, help define low, high, or exhausted cytokine producers within human peripheral and intrahepatic CD4⁺ memory T-cell populations. Highest simultaneous production of TNF and IFN-γ is observed in KLRB1⁺KLRG1⁺GPR56⁺ CD4 T cells. By contrast, KLRF1 expression is associated with T-cell exhaustion and reduced TNF/IFN-γ production. Lastly, TCRβ repertoire analysis and in vitro differentiation support a regulated, progressive expression for these markers during CD4⁺ memory T-cell differentiation. Our results thus help refine the classification of human memory T cells to provide insights on inflammatory disease progression and immunotherapy development.

Despite the current human CD4 memory T cell stratification by CD45RA/CCR7, functional heterogeneities still exist within the respective subsets. Here the authors show that several surface markers, including KLRB1, KLRG1, GPR56 and KLRF1, help to further refine the subsetting of human CD4 memory T cells and provide insights for their differentiation.

High Frequencies of Caspase-3 Expressing Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Specific CD4+ T Cells Are Associated With Active Tuberculosis

Antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cell responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection are important for host defense against tuberculosis (TB). However, Mtb-specific IFN-γ-producing T cells do not distinguish active tuberculosis (ATB) patients from individuals with asymptomatic latent Mtb infection (LTBI). We reasoned that the immune phenotype of Mtb-specific IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cells could provide an indirect gauge of Mtb antigen load within individuals. We sought to identify immune markers in Mtb-specific IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cells and hypothesized that expression of caspase-3 Mtb-specific CD4⁺ T cells would be associated with ATB. Using polychromatic flow cytometry, we evaluated the expression of caspase-3 in Mtb-specific CD4⁺ T cells from LTBI and ATB as well as from ATB patients undergoing anti-TB treatment. We found significantly higher frequencies of Mtb-specific caspase-3⁺IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cells in ATB compared to LTBI. Caspase-3⁺IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cells were also more activated compared to their caspase-3-negative counterparts. Furthermore, the frequencies of caspase-3⁺IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cells decreased in response to anti-TB treatment. Our studies suggest that the frequencies of caspase-3-expressing antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells may reflect mycobacterial burden in vivo and may be useful for distinguishing Mtb infection status along with other host biomarkers.

Analysis of the Phenotype of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Specific CD4+ T Cells to Discriminate Latent from Active Tuberculosis in HIV-Uninfected and HIV-Infected Individuals

Several immune-based assays have been suggested to differentiate latent from active tuberculosis (TB). However, their relative performance as well as their efficacy in HIV-infected persons, a highly at-risk population, remains unclear. In a study of 81 individuals, divided into four groups based on their HIV-1 status and TB disease activity, we compared the differentiation (CD27 and KLRG1), activation (HLA-DR), homing potential (CCR4, CCR6, CXCR3, and CD161) and functional profiles (IFNγ, IL-2, and TNFα) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-specific CD4+ T cells using flow cytometry. Active TB disease induced major changes within the Mtb-responding CD4+ T cell population, promoting memory maturation, elevated activation and increased inflammatory potential when compared to individuals with latent TB infection. Moreover, the functional profile of Mtb-specific CD4+ T cells appeared to be inherently related to their degree of differentiation. While these specific cell features were all capable of discriminating latent from active TB, irrespective of HIV status, HLA-DR expression showed the best performance for TB diagnosis [area-under-the-curve (AUC) = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.82–1.01, specificity: 82%, sensitivity: 84% for HIV− and AUC = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–1.01, specificity: 94%, sensitivity: 93% for HIV+]. In conclusion, these data support the idea that analysis of T cell phenotype can be diagnostically useful in TB.

CD4+ T Cells Are Not Required for Suppression of Hepatitis B Virus Replication in the Liver of Vaccinated Chimpanzees

Humans vaccinated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) sometimes develop humoral and cellular immunity to HBV proteins such as core and polymerase that are not vaccine components, providing indirect evidence that vaccine-induced immunity is not sterilizing. We previously described CD4(+) T-cell immunity against HBsAg and polymerase in chimpanzees after vaccination and HBV challenge. Here, vaccinated chimpanzees with protective levels of anti-HBsAg antibodies were rechallenged with HBV after antibody-mediated CD4(+) T-cell depletion. HBV DNA was detected in liver for at least 3 months after rechallenge, but virus replication was suppressed, as revealed by the absence of HBV DNA and HBsAg in serum. These observations provide direct virological evidence for nonsterilizing immunity in individuals with anti-HBsAg antibodies and are consistent with translation of HBV proteins to prime immune responses. They also indicate that CD4(+) T cells were not required for suppression of HBV replication in previously vaccinated individuals.

Memory T cell subsets in tuberculosis: what should we be targeting?

The purpose of vaccination is to establish a stable population of long lived memory T cells. In the context of tuberculosis, the BCG vaccine has been widely used for well over 60 years, but during that time its weaknesses, particularly its ineffectiveness in adults, has been increasingly recognized. In this commentary we review what is known about memory T cells, both in general and in the context of their role in expressing specific acquired resistance to tuberculosis. Current knowledge indicates that both effector memory and central memory can be generated, depending on the experimental conditions, but both in animal models and in clinical studies it is clear that effector memory T cells are the predominant subset. These issues are of importance, given the concerted effort to make new TB vaccines, not all of which may work in precisely the same manner. At the present time whether a TB vaccine would work better if it targeted one specific T cell subset rather than another is as yet completely unknown, and this is now further complicated by new evidence that suggests other subsets such as IL-17 secreting CD4 T cells and cells with stem cell-like qualities may also play important roles.

Cytomegalovirus-specific responses of CD38⁺ memory T cells are skewed towards IFN-γ and dissociated from CD154 in HIV-1 infection

OBJECTIVE

Despite the strong correlation of T-cell CD38 expression with HIV disease progression, evidence linking CD38 expression and dysfunction at the single cell level is scant. Since CD38⁺ memory CD4⁺ T cells, especially those from HIV-infected persons, fail to induce CD154 (CD40L) while responding to a superantigen with interferon (IFN)-γ or interleukin (IL)-2, we aimed to determine if recall responses to cytomegalovirus (CMV) were similarly affected in the CD38⁺ memory CD4⁺ T-cell subpopulation.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV+ patients and healthy controls were incubated 14 h with CMV antigens, the superantigen Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B or medium, and labeled for identification of central memory (T(CM)) and effector memory (T(EM)) CD4⁺ T cells, and for the intracellular detection of induced CD154, IFN-γ and/or IL-2 by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Compared with CD38⁻ cells, CD38⁺ T(CM) cells from patients had less CD40L induction after CMV stimulation, and increased IFN-γ response. Patients' CD38⁺ T(EM) cells showed a lower IL-2 response, and tended to have a greater IFN-γ response, in which CD154 induction frequently failed. CMV-specific responses of patients' CD38⁺ T(CM) and T(EM) cells were dominated by IFN-γ, and almost all IL-2⁺ cells co-expressed IFN-γ. IL-2 responses to the polyclonal activator S. aureus enterotoxin B were also significantly less frequent among CD38⁺ T(CM) and T(EM) cells than in CD38⁻ cells.

CONCLUSION

Patients' CD38⁺ memory CD4⁺T-cell responses to CMV favor the effector cytokine IFN-γ over IL-2, in the context of deficient CD154 induction, which may limit co-stimulation, proliferation and survival.

Senescence marker killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 (KLRG1) contributes to TNF-α production by interaction with its soluble E-cadherin ligand in chronically inflamed joints

OBJECTIVES

Killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 (KLRG1) is an NK cell marker also expressed on T cells showing an immunosenescent phenotype. KLRG1 binding to its ligand E-cadherin inhibits functional responses. It was recently shown that soluble E-cadherin (sE-cadherin) also influences KLRG1 signalling, although its involvement in arthritis is unknown. Our goal was to evaluate the contribution of KLRG1(+) T cells to synovitis.

METHODS

Paired peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) mononuclear cells from 21 patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), eight with crystal-induced arthritis and 10 controls were obtained. T cells were characterised for KLRG1 expression directly ex vivo, while TNF-α/IFN-γ production was assessed after polyclonal stimulation. Assays of chemotaxis response towards SF were conducted. Additionally, sE-cadherin levels in our paired samples were determined. Moreover, TNF-α/IFN-γ production by antigen-specific T cells was evaluated in the presence of sE-cadherin.

RESULTS

KLRG1(+) T cells were enriched in SF as opposed to PB of SpA and RA patients, which contrasts with results obtained in crystal-induced arthritides. KLRG1(+) T cells were more functionally active as opposed to KLRG1(-) T cells and migrated preferentially towards SpA and RA SF. sE-cadherin levels were higher in SF versus plasma. The presence of sE-cadherin enhanced the number of KLRG1(+) CD4(+) T cells able to produce TNF-α but not IFN-γ.

CONCLUSIONS

sE-cadherin contributes to the local proinflammatory environment in the joint by favouring TNF-α production by KLRG1(+) CD4(+) T cells. This pathway seems to be operational in both SpA and RA, but not in crystal-induced arthritis.

Transient expansion of activated CD8(+) T cells characterizes tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in patients with HIV: a case control study

BACKGROUND

CD4(+) T cell activation indicators have been reported to be a common phenomenon underlying diverse manifestations of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). However, we have found that a high frequency of circulating CD8(+) T cells is a specific risk factor for mycobacterial IRIS. Therefore, we investigated whether CD8(+) T cells from patients who develop TB IRIS were specifically activated.

METHODS

We obtained PBMCs from HIV+ patients prior to and 4, 8, 12, 24, 52 and 104 weeks after initiating antiretroviral therapy. CD38 and HLADR expression on naive, central memory and effector memory CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells were determined by flow cytometry. Absolute counts and frequencies of CD8(+) T cell subsets were compared between patients who developed TB IRIS, who developed other IRIS forms and who remained IRIS-free.

RESULTS

TB IRIS patients showed significantly higher counts of naive CD8(+) T cells than the other groups at most time points, with a contraction of the effector memory subpopulation occurring later in the follow-up period. Activated (CD38(+) HLADR(+)) CD8(+) T cells from all groups decreased with treatment but transiently peaked in TB IRIS patients. This increase was due to an increase in activated naive CD8(+) T cell counts during IRIS. Additionally, the CD8(+) T cell subpopulations of TB IRIS patients expressed HLADR without CD38 more frequently and expressed CD38 without HLADR less frequently than cells from other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

CD8(+) T cell activation is specifically relevant to TB IRIS. Different IRIS forms may involve different alterations in T cell subsets, suggesting different underlying inflammatory processes.

Impact of antigen specificity on CD4+ T cell activation in chronic HIV-1 infection

BACKGROUND

HIV infection induces chronic immune activation which is associated with accelerated disease progression; the causes of this activation, however, are incompletely understood. We investigated the activation status of CD4+ T cells specific for chronic herpes viruses and the non-persistent antigen tetanus toxoid (TT) in HIV positive and HIV negative donors to assess whether persistent infections contribute to chronic CD4+ T cell activation.

METHODS

Untreated HIV+ patients and healthy, aged matched controls were recruited and activation levels assessed and compared between cells specific for persistent and non-persistent antigens. Activation levels on antigen-specific CD4+ T cells were measured by intracellular cytokine staining following in vitro stimulation with various recall antigens (CMV, EBV, HSV, VZV and TT) in conjunction with cell surface phenotyping.

RESULTS

Activation levels of herpes virus-specific CD4+ T cell populations, assessed by co-expression of CD38 and HLA-DR, were significantly elevated in HIV+ individuals compared to normal controls and compared to TT-specific responses. In contrast, we found similar levels of activation of TT-specific CD4+ T cells in HIV+ and HIV- donors.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show a disparate distribution of immune activation within CD4+ T cell populations depending on their specificity and suggest that the elevated level of immune activation that characterizes chronic HIV infection may be influenced by the persistence of other antigens.

Antibody and T cell responses to Fusobacterium nucleatum and Treponema denticola in health and chronic periodontitis

The characteristics of the T cell response to the members of oral flora are poorly understood. We characterized the antibody and T cell responses to FadA and Td92, adhesins from Fusobacterium nucleatum, an oral commensal, and Treponema denticola, a periodontal pathogen, respectively. Peripheral blood and saliva were obtained from healthy individuals and patients with untreated chronic periodontitis (CP, n = 11 paris) and after successful treatment of the disease (n = 9). The levels of antigen-specific antibody were measured by ELISA. In plasma, IgG1 was the most abundant isotype of Ab for both Ags, followed by IgA and then IgG4. The levels of FadA-specific salivary IgA (sIgA) were higher than Td92-specific sIgA and the FadA-specific IgA levels observed in plasma. However, the periodontal health status of the individuals did not affect the levels of FadA- or Td92-specific antibody. Even healthy individuals contained FadA- and Td92-specific CD4⁺ T cells, as determined by the detection of intracytoplasmic CD154 after short-term in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with the antigens. Patients with CP tended to possess increased numbers of FadA- and Td92-specific CD4⁺ T cells but reduced numbers of Td92-specific Foxp3⁺CD4⁺ Tregs than the healthy subjects. Both FadA and Td92 induced the production of IFNγ and IL-10 but inhibited the secretion of IL-4 by PBMCs. In conclusion, F. nucleatum induced Th3 (sIgA)- and Th1 (IFNγ and IgG1)-dominant immune responses, whereas T. denticola induced a Th1 (IFNγ and IgG1)-dominant response. This IFNγ-dominant cytokine response was impaired in CP patients, and the Td92-induced IFNγ levels were negatively associated with periodontal destruction in patients. These findings may provide new insights into the homeostatic interaction between the immune system and oral bacteria and the pathogenesis of periodontitis.

Glycoprotein B vaccine is capable of boosting both antibody and CD4 T-cell responses to cytomegalovirus in chronically infected women

Traditionally, vaccines have been utilized to generate immune responses to a pathogen in a naive population. In the setting of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, a vaccine that, when administered to women already infected with CMV, could boost the mother's immunity to CMV would most likely be beneficial in diminishing in utero transmission of CMV. However, the ability to boost an immune response in a population of individuals seropositive for a pathogen of interest is not well studied. This study examines the ability of a recombinant CMV glycoprotein B vaccine with MF59 adjuvant to boost both antibody (neutralizing and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay end point dilution titer) and CD4+ T-cell responses in previously CMV-seropositive women by way of natural infection. These data suggest that this vaccine is capable of boosting immunity in a population of CMV-infected women and warrants additional evaluation to determine whether these boosted responses may prevent mother to child transmission of CMV.

Dissociation of CD154 and cytokine expression patterns in CD38+ CD4+ memory T cells in chronic HIV-1 infection

Expression of the activation antigen CD38 on T cells is a strong predictor of the risk of HIV disease progression, but it is not known whether CD38 is a marker or mediator of dysfunction. We examined the relationship between CD38 expression and responses to T-cell receptor stimulation in central memory and effector memory CD4 T cells in HIV-infected persons and in healthy controls. Basal CD38 expression was preserved by blocking golgi transport with brefeldin A. Intracellular expression of interleukin 2, interferon γ, and CD154 was measured after stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells with the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B with or without anti-CD28 costimulation. Interferon-γ responses were comparable or increased in stimulated CD38 memory cells, and the interleukin 2 responses of costimulated CD38 central memory cells were decreased in HIV infection. In CD38 cells and especially in CD38 cells of HIV-infected persons, stimulated memory cells more often failed to express CD154 (CD40 ligand) when induced to express cytokine. A dissociated cytokine and CD154 expression by memory CD4 T cells may impair interactions between T cells and antigen-presenting cells, contribute to impaired immunity and help explain the relationship between CD38 expression and disease progression in chronic HIV infection.

Whole-animal senescent cytotoxic T cell removal using antibodies linked to magnetic nanoparticles

A major type of unwanted cells that accumulate in aging are anergic cytotoxic T cells. These cells often have virus-specific T cell receptors, as well as other surface markers that distinguish them from their youthful counterparts, and they are thought to play a major role in the decline of the immune system with age. Here we consider two surface markers thought to define these cells in mice, CD8 and Killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 (KLRG1), and a means we developed to remove these cells from the blood of aged C57BL/6 mice. Using antibodies with magnetic nanoparticles linked to their Fc domains, we first developed a method to use magnets to filter out the unwanted cells from the blood and later constructed a device that does this automatically. We demonstrated that this device could reduce the KLRG1-positive CD8 cell count in aged mouse blood by a factor of 7.3 relative to the total CD8 cell compartment, reaching a level typically seen only in very young animals.

Chlamydia pneumoniae-induced memory CD4+ T-cell activation in human peripheral blood correlates with distinct antibody response patterns

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a frequent pathogen of the respiratory tract, and persistent infections with this obligate intracellular bacterium have been associated with different severe sequelae. Although T-cell activation during acute C. pneumoniae infections has been described, little is known about the frequency or the role of the C. pneumoniae-specific memory T cells that reside in the human body after the resolution of the infection. In the present study, the C. pneumoniae-induced T-cell responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 56 healthy volunteers were analyzed and compared to the donor's serum antibody reactivity toward whole C. pneumoniae as well as recombinant C. pneumoniae antigens. Following short-term stimulation with C. pneumoniae, both gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)- and interleukin-2 (IL-2)-producing CD4(+) T-cell responses could be detected in 16 of 56 healthy individuals. C. pneumoniae-activated CD4(+) T cells expressed CD154, a marker for T-cell receptor-dependent activation, and displayed a phenotype of central memory T cells showing dominant IL-2 production but also IFN-gamma production. Interestingly, individuals with both IFN-gamma- and IL-2-producing responses showed significantly decreased immunoglobulin G reactivity toward C. pneumoniae RpoA and DnaK, antigens known to be strongly upregulated during chlamydial persistence, compared to IgG reactivity of seropositive individuals with no T-cell response or CD4(+) T-cell responses involving the production of a single cytokine (IFN-gamma or IL-2). Our results demonstrate that memory CD4(+) T cells responding to C. pneumoniae stimulation can be detected in the circulation of healthy donors. Furthermore, among seropositive individuals, the presence or the absence of dual IFN-gamma- and IL-2-producing T-cell responses was associated with distinct patterns of antibody responses toward persistence-associated C. pneumoniae antigens.

Adenovirus vector-specific T cells demonstrate a unique memory phenotype with high proliferative potential and coexpression of CCR5 and integrin alpha4beta7

BACKGROUND

The Step Study was a randomized trial to reduce HIV infection through vaccination with an adenovirus type 5 (Ad5)-based gag/pol/nef construct; analysis following early cessation of the trial revealed an excess of HIV seroconversion in Ad5 seropositive men. This led to the suggestion that the Ad based vector may boost the number of CD4 chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) T cells, target cells for HIV infection.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to determine the immunophenotype and proliferative capacity of Ad5-specific T cells in the peripheral blood of adult donors to determine whether stimulation with replication defective Ad5 vectors could result in the significant expansion of a CD4 CCR5 T-cell subset.

METHODS

Ad5-specific T cells were identified in the peripheral blood of healthy donors by interferon-gamma secretion assay and proliferative response was measured by carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester labelling. Cells were analyzed by flow cytometry to determine T-cell differentiation marker, CCR5 and alpha4beta7 expression on memory and proliferated cells.

RESULTS

Ad5-specific CD4 T cells within healthy adult donors exhibit a unique minimally differentiated memory phenotype with coexpression of CD45RA, CD45RO and CCR7. Stimulation with Ad vector leads to rapid expansion in vitro and a switch to an effector memory phenotype. Both short-term reactivated and proliferating Ad5-specific CD4 T cells express the HIV coreceptor CCR5 and the HIV gp120-binding integrin alpha4beta7.

CONCLUSION

Ad5-specific T cells demonstrate a phenotype and proliferative potential that would support HIV infection; these results are pertinent to the findings of the Step Study and future use of Ad5 as a vaccine vector.

Immunoregulatory functions of KLRG1 cadherin interactions are dependent on forward and reverse signaling

KLRG1 is an inhibitory receptor expressed on a subset of mature T and NK cells. Recently, E-, N-, and R-cadherin have been identified as ligands for KLRG1. Cadherins are a large family of transmembrane or membrane-associated glycoproteins that were thought to only bind specifically to other cadherins to mediate specific cell-to-cell adhesion in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. The consequences of cadherin KLRG1 molecular interactions are not well characterized. Here, we report that the first 2 extracellular domains of cadherin are sufficient to initiate a KLRG1-dependent signaling. We also demonstrate that KLRG1 engagement inhibits cadherin-dependent cellular adhesion and influences dendritic cell secretion of inflammatory cytokines, thereby exerting immunosuppressive effects. Consistent with this, engagement of cadherin by KLRG1 molecule induces cadherin tyrosine phosphorylation. Therefore, KLRG1/cadherin interaction leads to the generation of a bidirectional signal in which both KLRG1 and cadherin activate downstream signaling cascades simultaneously. Taken together, our results provide novel insights on how KLRG1 and E-cadherin interactions are integrated to differentially regulate not only KLRG1(+) cells, but also E-cadherin-expressing cells, such as dendritic cells.

Immunization with an immunodominant self-peptide derived from glucose-6-phosphate isomerase induces arthritis in DBA/1 mice

Introduction

T-helper (Th) lymphocytes are critically required for the pathogenesis of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (G6PI)-induced arthritis, but neither the G6PI epitopes recognized by arthritogenic T cells nor their pathogenic effector functions have been fully elucidated to date. We aimed at identifying arthritogenic G6PI peptides.

Methods

We used a library of overlapping peptides spanning the entire G6PI sequence to identify the epitopes recognized by G6PI-specific Th cells. Immunodominant peptides were then used to immunize mice. Arthritis development was evaluated clinically and histologically. The humoral and cellular immune responses upon peptide immunization were analyzed by ELISA and multiparameter flow cytometry, respectively.

Results

We identified six immunodominant T-cell epitopes in DBA/1 mice, of which three are arthritogenic. One of these peptides (G6PI_469–483) is identical in man and mice. Immunization with this peptide induces arthritis, which is less severe and of shorter duration than arthritis induced by immunization with full-length G6PI. Upon immunization with either G6PI or peptide, the antigen-specific Th cells produce IL-17, RANKL, IFNγ and TNFα.

Conclusions

We identified immunodominant and arthritogenic epitopes of G6PI. Not all immunodominant peptides are arthritogenic. This is the first description of arthritis induced by immunization with a self-peptide in mice.

Heterogeneous memory T cells in antiviral immunity and immunopathology

Memory T cells are generated following an initial viral infection, and have the potential for mediating robust protective immunity to viral re-challenge due to their rapid and enhanced functional responses. In recent years, it has become clear that the memory T cell response to most viruses is remarkably diverse in phenotype, function, and tissue distribution, and can undergo dynamic changes during its long-term maintenance in vivo. However, the role of this variegation and compartmentalizationof memory T cells in protective immunity to viruses remains unclear. In this review,we discuss the diverse features of memory T cells that can delineate different subsets, the characteristics of memory T cells thus far identified to promote protective immune responses, and how the heterogeneous nature of memory T cells may also promote immunopathology during antiviral responses. We propose that given the profound heterogeneity of memory T cells, regulation of memory T cells during secondary responses could focus the response to participation of specific subsets,and/or inhibit memory T-cell subsets and functions that can lead to immunopathology.

Fine-tuning CD4+ central memory T cell heterogeneity by strength of stimulation

The memory T cell pool serves as a relatively long-lived heterogeneous repository of antigen-experienced T cells that "remember" previous encounters with antigen. While heterogeneity in the memory T cell pool is now well established, signals regulating the generation of this memory T cell heterogeneity are not fully understood. Two articles in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology highlight the importance of the strength of antigenic stimulation in regulating the generation of phenotypically and functionally distinct CD4(+) T cell memory subsets. New insights are also provided into key molecular players that likely mediate differences in homeostatic and secondary expansion between the memory subsets.