Sarawar SR, Shen J, Dias P. Insights into CD8 T Cell Activation and Exhaustion from a Mouse Gammaherpesvirus Model.
Viral Immunol 2020;
33:215-224. [PMID:
32286179 PMCID:
PMC7185348 DOI:
10.1089/vim.2019.0183]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
(S.R.S.) I was introduced to viral immunology while working in Peter Doherty's laboratory in the early stages of my research career, inspiring a lifelong interest in this area. During those early years under Peter's mentorship, we studied a mouse gammaherpesvirus model (murine gammaherpesvirus-68 [MHV-68]) that provided a useful small animal model for investigating the immunological control of gammaherpesvirus infection. Interestingly, while CD4 T cells were not required for acute control of MHV-68 in the lung, CD8 T cell-mediated control was progressively lost in the absence of CD4 T cell help, leading to viral recrudescence. This was one of several early studies showing that CD8 T cell control of persistent viral infections was lost in the absence of CD4 T cell help, preceding the concept of CD8 T cell exhaustion. Further studies showed that MHV-68 infection of mice offered a unique model for comparing the mechanisms of acute and long-term control of a persistent viral infection and developing strategies for reversing T cell exhaustion. Here, we provide a brief review of the literature on CD8 T cell activation and exhaustion in this model, focusing on the role of CD40 and B7 family members and including some previously unpublished data.
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