Critical, but Conditional, Role of OX40 in Memory T Cell-Mediated Rejection

We have shown that alloreactive CD8 T cell activation may proceed via CD4-dependent and CD4-independent pathways, and that CD8 T cell activation in Ag-primed animals is independent of CD154 costimulation. In this report, we further analyzed the activation and function of alloreactive CD8 CTL effectors in CD4 knockout (KO) skin/cardiac allograft recipients. FACS analysis showed that alloreactive CD8 T cells were activated at a significantly reduced level in CD4 KO mice. Importantly, these helpless CD8 T cells failed to develop CD154 blockade resistance following reactivation by the same alloantigen, indicative of defective memory formation. Only transient CD4 help was required, as short-term CD4 blockade at the time of first skin graft challenge only delayed alloreactive CD8 activation, without affecting the CD8 T cell memory response to a second skin graft. Moreover, postoperative CD4 blockade had no effect on alloreactive CD8 activation. Alloreactive CD8 cells generated in the absence of CD4 help exhibited decreased effector responses. Interestingly, intragraft induction of T cell-targeted chemokines early after transplant was also dependent on CD4 help, as the induction kinetics of CXCL9 and CCL5 in CD4 KO recipients was significantly delayed, coupled with similarly delayed infiltration by CD3/CD8 cells. Remarkably, helpless CD8 cells ultimately entering the graft still displayed significantly diminished T cell effector molecules (IFN-γ, granzyme B). Thus, CD4 help is critical for alloreactive CD8 activation, function, and memory formation.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defective Alloreactive CD8 T Cell Function and Memory Response in Allograft Recipients in the Absence of CD4 Help

Zhai

Wang

et al. 2007

“…Memory T cells are specific to the Ag encountered during a primary immune response and respond rapidly and vigorously upon re-encounter with the same Ag. They are resistant to conventional T cell costimulation blockade (22)(23)(24)(25)(26), function independently of secondary lymph organs (27), and are therefore an impediment to the induction of allograft tolerance (28 -34). However, it is unknown whether memory T cells are susceptible to the suppression mediated by tryptophan catabolism.…”

Section: Suppression Of Memory Cd8 T Cell Generation Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suppression of Memory CD8 T Cell Generation and Function by Tryptophan Catabolism

Liu

Dai

et al. 2007

Dendritic cell-derived indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) suppresses naive T cell proliferation and induces their apoptosis by catalyzing tryptophan, and hence is essential for the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. However, it is not known whether memory T cells are subject to the regulation by IDO-mediated tryptophan catabolism, as memory T cells respond more rapidly and vigorously than their naive counterparts and are resistant to conventional costimulatory blockade. In this study, we present the evidence that memory CD8+ T cells are susceptible to tryptophan catabolism mediated by IDO. We found that overexpression of IDO in vivo attenuated the generation of both central memory CD8+ T cells (TCM) and effector memory CD8+ T cells (TEM) while suppressing IDO activity promoted their generation. Moreover, IDO overexpression suppressed the effector function of TCM cells or TCM cell-mediated allograft rejection as well as their proliferation in vivo. Interestingly, TCM cells were resistant to apoptosis induced by tryptophan catabolism. However, IDO overexpression did not suppress the effector function of TEM cells or TEM cell-mediated allograft rejection, suggesting that TEM cells, unlike TCM cells, do not require tryptophan for their effector function once they are generated. This study provides insight into the mechanisms underlying the differential regulation of memory T cell responsiveness and has clinical implications for vaccination or tolerance induction.

“…Memory T cells are specific to the Ag encountered during a primary immune response, and they respond rapidly and vigorously upon reencounter with the same Ag. They are resistant to the conventional costimulation blockade (4 -7), although susceptible to 4 -1BB and OX40 costimulation blockade (8,9), and they hinder allograft survival or tolerance induction (10 -19). However, their migratory pathways and functional requirements for chemokines are not well understood.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role for Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 in the Generation and Function of Memory CD8+ T Cells

Wang

Dai

et al. 2008

Memory T cells are resistant to the conventional costimulatory blockade and therefore impede tolerance induction. However, their migratory, survival, and functional requirements for chemokines are not well understood. We herein examine the role for MCP-1 or CCL2 in the generation, migration, and function of memory CD8+ T cells. We found that overall generation of both central memory (TCM) and effector memory (TEM) CD8+ T cells was severely impaired in the absence of MCP-1. Importantly, the survival of TEM, but not TCM, CD8+ cells was reduced without MCP-1, whereas the homeostatic proliferation of TCM, but not TEM, CD8+ cells was weakened in MCP-1−/− mice. However, once they were generated in the absence of MCP-1, in vitro function of both subsets of memory cells remained intact as determined by their proliferation and IFN-γ production. Interestingly, the migration of TCM, but not TEM, CD8+ cells to inflammatory sites was significantly delayed without MCP-1, whereas both subsets of memory cells underwent comparable expansion and apoptosis with or without MCP-1 during the effector phase. Moreover, the function to eliminate a graft of TCM, but not TEM, CD8+ cells was impaired without MCP-1. Thus, this study demonstrates that MCP-1 plays an important role in not only migration but also generation and survival of memory T cells. This finding provides new insight into the requirement of chemokines for the generation, survival, and function of differential subsets of memory T cells and may have clinic implications for tolerance induction.