Differential effect of Listeria monocytogenes infection on cytokine production and cytotoxicity of CD8 T cells

Microbiol Immunol. 2007;51(9):893-901. doi: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2007.tb03972.x.

Abstract

Bacterial infection induces a shift to type 1 CD4 T cell subset in an infected host and this shift is important for protection of the host from disease development. Many researchers think that the shift is antigen-dependent, but we previously demonstrated an initial induction step for CD4 T cell subsets during Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) infection is antigen-independent. Although Listeria is a TLR2 ligand, the immune system of the Lm-infected host responded to the pathogen to induce expression of CD69 but not CD25 on CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells and B cells even in the absence of TLR2 or MyD88. The antigen-independent activation of type 1 CD4 T cells accelerate the clearance of pathogens by activating innate immune cells with type 1 cytokines. Type 1 CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells also collaborate to protect the host from intracellular Lm infection. Since CD8 T cells function mainly as cytotoxic T cells and CD69-positive CD8 T cells increase during Lm-infection, cytotoxic activity of CD8 T cells was evaluated during Lm-infection. Although CD8 T cells were activated to produce IFN-gamma, the cytotoxic function of CD8 T cells in Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) p14 TCR-transgenic mouse was not augmented by Lm-infection. Therefore, Lm-infection differentially influences on cytokine production and cytotoxicity of CD8 T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism*
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / metabolism*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic*
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Listeria monocytogenes*
  • Listeriosis / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • CD69 antigen
  • Cytokines
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Interferon-gamma