Cutting Edge: Virus-Specific CD4+ Memory T Cells in Nonlymphoid Tissues Express a Highly Activated Phenotype

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) 2002-12, Vol.169 (12), p.6655-6658
• Main Authors: Cauley, Linda S, Cookenham, Tres, Miller, Timothy B, Adams, Pamela S, Vignali, Kate M, Vignali, Dario A. A, Woodland, David L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - chemistry; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - virology; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte - immunology; Female; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - analysis; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - genetics; HN Protein - immunology; Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments - analysis; Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments - genetics; Immunologic Memory; Immunophenotyping; Lung - immunology; Lung - metabolism; Lung - pathology; Lung - virology; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocyte Count; Lymphoid Tissue - immunology; Lymphoid Tissue - pathology; Lymphoid Tissue - virology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - analysis; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - biosynthesis; Respirovirus Infections - immunology; Respirovirus Infections - pathology; Respirovirus Infections - virology; Sendai virus - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - virology
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.169.12.6655

Recent studies have shown that CD4(+) memory T cells persist in nonlymphoid organs following infections. However, the development and phenotype of these peripheral memory cells are poorly defined. In this study, multimerized MHC-Ig fusion proteins, with a covalently attached peptide sequence from the Sendai virus hemagglutinin/neuraminidase gene, have been used to identify virus-specific CD4(+) T cells during Sendai virus infection and the establishment of peripheral CD4(+) memory populations in the lungs. We show declining frequencies of virus-specific CD4(+) T cells in the lungs over the course of approximately 3 mo after infection. Like peripheral CD8(+) T cells, the CD4(+) have an acutely activated phenotype, suggesting that a high level of differentiation is required to reach the airways and persist as memory cells. Differences in CD25 and CD11a expression indicate that the CD4(+) cells from the lung airways and parenchyma are distinct memory populations.