Tissue-specific programming of memory CD8 T cell subsets impacts protection against lethal respiratory virus infection

• DOI: 10.1084/jem.20160167
• Publication Date: 2016-11-22T16:16:24Z
• Authors: Georges Abboud; Pritesh Desai; Farhad Dastmalchi; Jessica Stanfield; Vikas Tahiliani; Tarun E. Hutchinson; Shahram Salek-Ard...
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences; Mice, Transgenic; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Respirovirus Infections; Respirovirus; 3. Good health; Pulmonary Alveoli; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Animals; Female; Immunologic Memory; Respiratory Tract Infections; Research Articles

How tissue-specific anatomical distribution and phenotypic specialization are linked to protective efficacy of memory T cells against reinfection is unclear. Here, we show that lung environmental cues program recently recruited central-like with migratory potentials for their functions during lethal respiratory virus infection. After entering the lung, some retain original CD27hiCXCR3hi phenotype, enabling them localize near infected bronchiolar epithelium airway lumen function as first line defense pathogen encounter. Others, in response local cytokine triggers, undergo a secondary differentiation leads loss CXCR3, migration arrest, clustering within peribronchoarterial areas interalveolar septa. immune system adapts its prevent systemic viral dissemination mortality. These results reveal striking unexpected spatial organization central- versus effector-like how cooperation between these two subsets contributes host defense.