| First Author | Tripathi P | Year | 2016 |
| Journal | Eur J Immunol | Volume | 46 |
| Issue | 10 | Pages | 2333-2339 |
| PubMed ID | 27457412 | Mgi Jnum | J:246642 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5922491 | Doi | 10.1002/eji.201646404 |
| Citation | Tripathi P, et al. (2016) IL-4 and IL-15 promotion of virtual memory CD8+ T cells is determined by genetic background. Eur J Immunol 46(10):2333-2339 |
| abstractText | Virtual memory (VM) CD8+ T cells are present in unimmunized mice, yet possess T-cell receptors specific for foreign antigens. To date, VM cells have only been characterized in C57BL/6 mice. Here, we assessed the cytokine requirements for VM cells in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. As reported previously, VM cells in C57BL/6 mice rely mostly on IL-15 and marginally on IL-4. In stark contrast, VM cells in BALB/c mice rely substantially on IL-4 and marginally on IL-15. Further, NKT cells are the likely source of IL-4, because CD1d-deficient mice on a BALB/c background have significantly fewer VM cells. Notably, this NKT/IL-4 axis contributes to appropriate effector and memory T-cell responses to infection in BALB/c mice, but not in C57BL/6 mice. However, the effects of IL-4 are manifest prior to, rather than during, infection. Thus, cytokine-mediated control of the precursor population affects the development of virus-specific CD8+ T-cell memory. Depending upon the genetic background, different cytokines encountered before infection may influence the subsequent ability to mount primary and memory anti-viral CD8+ T-cell responses. |
