CD4 + T cells are generally regarded as helpers and regulators of the immune response. Although cytolytic CD4 + T cells have been described, whether those generated during the course of a viral infection play a role in virus control remains unknown. Here we show that during acute infection with ectromelia virus, the mouse homolog of the human virus of smallpox, large numbers of CD4 + T cells in the draining lymph node and liver of resistant mice have a cytotoxic phenotype. We also show that these cells kill targets in vivo in a perforin-dependent manner and that mice with specific deficiency of perforin in CD4 + T cells have impaired virus control. Thus, perforin-dependent CD4 + T-cell killing of infected cells is an important mechanism of antiviral defense.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-presented peptides can be derived from both exogenous (extracellular) and endogenous (biosynthesized) sources of antigen. Although several endogenous antigenprocessing pathways have been reported, little is known about their relative contributions to global CD4؉ T cell responses against complex antigens. Using influenza virus for this purpose, we assessed the role of macroautophagy, a process in which cytosolic proteins are delivered to the lysosome by de novo vesicle formation and membrane fusion. Influenza infection triggered productive macroautophagy, and autophagy-dependent presentation was readily observed with model antigens that naturally traffic to the autophagosome. Furthermore, treatments that enhance or inhibit macroautophagy modulated the level of presentation from these model antigens. However, validated enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assays of influenza-specific CD4 ؉ T cells from infected mice using a variety of antigen-presenting cells, including primary dendritic cells, revealed no detectable macroautophagy-dependent component. In contrast, the contribution of proteasome-dependent endogenous antigen processing to the global influenza CD4؉ response was readily appreciated. The contribution of macroautophagy to the MHC class II-restricted response may vary depending upon the pathogen. The activation of CD4ϩ T cells depends upon their recognition of peptides (epitopes) associated with major histo compatibility class (MHC) class II molecules. Conventionally, peptide generation involves the degradation of exogenous (extracellular) antigens in the endosomal network by multiple mechanisms, including unfolding, reduction, and proteolytic degradation. It is now clear that epitopes derived from endogenous antigens (synthesized by the cell) also can be presented on MHC class II molecules (12,22,24,38,49,50,60,66). Indeed, endogenous antigen expression appears to be an absolute requirement for the presentation of some epitopes. For example, the UV inactivation of A/PR8/34 influenza virus (PR8) or treatment of infected antigen-presenting cells (APCs) with protein synthesis inhibitors prevents the presentation of the NA79 epitope (12). Similar observations have been made for an epitope derived from influenza matrix protein 1 (24) and an epitope derived from the MHC class I H2-L d molecule (39).Numerous studies now have demonstrated that endogenous antigens can gain access to MHC class II loading compartments via a variety of intracellular pathways (4,38,49,57,66,67). Perhaps the most straightforward route is autophagy, in which cytosolic proteins are delivered to the lysosome via several different mechanisms. Chaperone-mediated autophagy results in the delivery of cytosolic proteins directly to the lysosome based upon the recognition of a KFERQ pentapeptide motif within the target protein, and it was shown to be responsible for the presentation of an epitope derived from glutamate decarboxylase (72). Although 30% of cytosolic proteins contain this motif (70)...
Bordetella bronchiseptica is a Gram-negative bacterium equipped with several colonization factors that allow it to establish a persistent infection of the murine respiratory tract. Previous studies indicate that B. bronchiseptica adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) and the type III secretion system (TTSS) synergize to drive dendritic cells into an altered phenotype to down-regulate the host immune response. In this study, we examined the effects of B. bronchiseptica ACT and TTSS on murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. We demonstrate that ACT and TTSS are required for the inhibition of Ag-driven CD4+ T cell proliferation by bacteria-infected macrophages. We identify PGE2 as the mediator of this inhibition, and we show that ACT and the TTSS synergize to increase macrophage production of PGE2. We further demonstrate that B. bronchiseptica can modulate normal macrophage function and drive the immune response toward a Th17 phenotype classified by the significant production of IL-17. In this study, we show that B. bronchiseptica-infected macrophages can induce IL-17 production from naive CD4+ splenocytes, and that lung tissues from B. bronchiseptica-infected mice exhibit a strong Th17 immune response. ACT inhibited surface expression of CD40 and CD86, suppressed TNF-α production, and up-regulated IL-6 production. TTSS also synergized with ACT to up-regulate IL-10 and PGE2 secretion. These findings indicate that persistent colonization by B. bronchiseptica may rely on the ability of the bacteria to differentially modulate both macrophage and dendritic cell function leading to an altered adaptive immune response and subsequent bacterial colonization.
Although the pattern recognition receptor Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is typically thought to recognize bacterial components, it has been described to alter the induction of both innate and adaptive immunity to a number of viruses, including vaccinia virus (VACV). However, many pathogens that reportedly encode TLR2 agonists may actually be artifactually contaminated during preparation, possibly with cellular debris or merely with molecules that sensitize cells to be activated by authentic TLR2 agonists. In both humans and mice, the most relevant natural route of infection with VACV is through intradermal infection of the skin. Therefore, we examined the requirement for TLR2 and its signaling adaptor MyD88 in protective immunity to VACV after intradermal infection. We find that although TLR2 may recognize virus preparations in vitro and have a minor role in preventing dissemination of VACV following systemic infection with large doses of virus, it is wholly disposable in both control of virus replication and induction of adaptive immunity following intradermal infection. In contrast, MyD88 is required for efficient induction of CD4 T cell and B cell responses and for local control of virus replication following intradermal infection. However, even MyD88 is not required to induce local inflammation, inflammatory cytokine production, or recruitment of cells that restrict virus from spreading systemically after peripheral infection. Thus, an effective antiviral response does require MyD88, but TLR2 is not required for control of a peripheral VACV infection. These findings emphasize the importance of studying relevant routes of infection when examining innate sensing mechanisms. IMPORTANCEVaccinia virus (VACV) provides the backbone for some of the most widely used and successful viral vaccine vectors and is also related to the human pathogens Cantagalo virus and molluscum contagiosum virus that infect the skin of patients. Therefore, it is vital to understand the mechanisms that induce a strong innate immune response to the virus following dermal infection. Here, we compare the ability of the innate sensing molecule Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and the signaling molecule MyD88 to influence the innate and adaptive immune response to VACV following systemic or dermal infection.
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