Role of PD-1 during effector CD8 T cell differentiation

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1718217115
• Publication Date: 2018-04-13T19:25:14Z
• Authors: Eunseon Ahn; Koichi Araki; Masao Hashimoto; Weiyan Li; James L. Riley; Jeanne Cheung; Arlene H. Sharpe; Gordon J. Freeman; Bryan A. Irving; Rafi Ahmed
• Keywords: Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; Cell Differentiation; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis; Lymphocyte Activation; 3. Good health; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Animals; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus; Female

Significance PD-1–mediated inhibitory signals play a major role in T cell exhaustion during chronic infections and cancers, which makes PD-1 a valuable target of checkpoint blockade in cancer immunotherapy. However, the role of PD-1 in effector CD8 T cell differentiation during an acute viral infection is not well defined. Here, we show that PD-1 also functions as an inhibitory receptor during this early stage of T cell activation and that PD-1 blockade enhances effector function and results in faster clearance of infection.