First Author | Ranson T | Year | 2005 |
Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 175 |
Issue | 2 | Pages | 1137-44 |
PubMed ID | 16002715 | Mgi Jnum | J:100730 |
Mgi Id | MGI:3589349 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.175.2.1137 |
Citation | Ranson T, et al. (2005) Invariant V alpha 14+ NKT cells participate in the early response to enteric Listeria monocytogenes infection. J Immunol 175(2):1137-44 |
abstractText | Invariant Valpha14(+) NKT cells are a specialized CD1-reactive T cell subset implicated in innate and adaptive immunity. We assessed whether Valpha14(+) NKT cells participated in the immune response against enteric Listeria monocytogenes infection in vivo. Using CD1d tetramers loaded with the synthetic lipid alpha-galactosylceramide (CD1d/alphaGC), we found that splenic and hepatic Valpha14(+) NKT cells in C57BL/6 mice were early producers of IFN-gamma (but not IL-4) after L. monocytogenes infection. Adoptive transfer of Valpha14(+) NKT cells derived from TCRalpha degrees Valpha14-Jalpha18 transgenic (TCRalpha degrees Valpha14Tg) mice into alymphoid Rag(null) gamma(c)(null) mice demonstrated that Valpha14(+) NKT cells were capable of providing early protection against enteric L. monocytogenes infection with systemic production of IFN-gamma and reduction of the bacterial burden in the liver and spleen. Rechallenge experiments demonstrated that previously immunized wild-type and Jalpha18null mice, but not TCRalpha(null) or TCRalpha(null) Valpha14Tg mice, were able to mount adaptive responses to L. monocytogenes. These data demonstrate that Valpha14(+) NKT cells are able to participate in the early response against enteric L. monocytogenes through amplification of IFN-gamma production, but are not essential for, nor capable of, mediating memory responses required to sterilize the host. |