Recruitment,activation and proliferation of CD8+ memory T cells in an immunoprivileged site |
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Authors: | Philip G Stevenson Charles R M Bangham Simon Hawke |
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Abstract: | The capacity of a memory cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) population to protect against viral infections is well established, but the processes underlying this protection are less well understood. We have used heterotypic intranasal immunization with influenza A/X31 (H3N2) to protect against a subsequent infection with the neurovirulent influenza A/WSN (H1N1) in either the cerebrospinal fluid or the immunoprivileged brain parenchyma. Viral clearance from both sites was associated with a local infiltration and proliferation of A/WSN-specific CD8+ T cells. Infection in the cerebrospinal fluid elicited a proliferative response in the draining lymph nodes, an anti-H1N1 serum antibody response and an increase in the extracerebral A/WSN-specific CTL precursor frequency. In contrast, infection in the brain parenchyma elicited no lymph node proliferative response or serum antibody response and caused a transient decrease in the extracerebral CTL precursor frequency. Thus the memory CTL population protected against an intracerebral viral infection independent of any immune response occurring in systemic lymphoid tissue. |
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Keywords: | Cytotoxic T lymphocyte Memory Viral immunology Influenza Brain |
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