Cutting edge: requirement for IL-15 in the generation of primary and memory antigen-specific CD8 T cells |
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Authors: | Schluns Kimberly S Williams Kristina Ma Averil Zheng Xin X Lefrançois Leo |
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Institution: | Division of Immunology, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030, USA. |
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Abstract: | IL-15 and IL-15Ralpha are required for generation of memory-phenotype CD8 T cells in unimmunized mice. However, the role of IL-15 in primary expansion and generation of Ag-specific memory CD8 T cells in vivo has not been investigated. We characterized the CD8 T cell response against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in IL-15(-/-) and IL-15Ralpha(-/-) mice. Surprisingly, IL-15 was required for primary expansion of VSV-specific CD8 T cells. The generation of VSV-specific memory CD8 T cells was also impaired without IL-15 signaling, and this defect correlated with a decrease in memory CD8 T cell turnover. Despite minimal proliferation without IL-15, a subset of memory cells survived long-term. IL-15Ralpha expression was low on naive CD8 T cells, up-regulated on Ag-specific effector cells, and sustained on memory cells. Thus, IL-15 was important for the generation and the subsequent maintenance of antiviral memory CD8 T cells. |
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