A Critical Role for CD8 T Cells in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Tuberculosis

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000392
• Publication Date: 2009-04-16T21:51:48Z
• Authors: Crystal Y. Chen; Dan Huang; Richard C. Wang; Ling Shen; Gucheng Zeng; Shuyun Yao; Yun Shen; Lisa Halliday; Jeff Fortman; Milton McAllister; Jim Estep; Robert Hunt; Daphne Vasconcelos; George Du; Steven A. Porcelli; Michelle H. Larsen; William R. Jacobs; Barton F. Haynes; Norman L. Letvin; Zheng W. Chen
• Keywords: Tuberculosis vaccines; Cellular immunity

The role of CD8 T cells in anti-tuberculosis immunity humans remains unknown, and studies cell–mediated protection against tuberculosis mice have yielded controversial results. Unlike mice, nonhuman primates share a number important features the immune system that relate directly to specificity functions cells, such as expression group 1 CD1 proteins are capable presenting Mycobacterium lipids antigens cytotoxic/bactericidal protein granulysin. Employing more relevant primate model human tuberculosis, we examined contribution BCG- or M. tuberculosis-elicited vaccine-induced tuberculosis. depletion compromised BCG control replication vaccinated rhesus macaques. Depletion BCG-vaccinated macaques led significant decrease Consistently, had been previously infected with cured by antibiotic therapy also resulted loss upon re-infection. current study demonstrates major for immunity, supports view should be included strategies development new vaccines immunotherapeutics.