| First Author | Nanjappa SG | Year | 2008 |
| Journal | J Clin Invest | Volume | 118 |
| Issue | 3 | Pages | 1027-39 |
| PubMed ID | 18246202 | Mgi Jnum | J:135264 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3790921 | Doi | 10.1172/JCI32020 |
| Citation | Nanjappa SG, et al. (2008) Effects of IL-7 on memory CD8 T cell homeostasis are influenced by the timing of therapy in mice. J Clin Invest 118(3):1027-39 |
| abstractText | IL-7 is integral to the generation and maintenance of CD8(+) T cell memory, and insufficient IL-7 is believed to limit survival and the persistence of memory CD8(+) T cells. Here, we show that during the mouse T cell response to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, IL-7 enhanced the number of memory CD8(+) T cells when its administration was restricted to the contraction phase of the response. Likewise, IL-7 administration during the contraction phase of the mouse T cell response to vaccinia virus or a DNA vaccine potentiated antigen-specific CD8(+) memory T cell proliferation and function. Qualitatively, CD8(+) T cells from IL-7-treated mice exhibited superior recall responses and improved viral control. IL-7 treatment during the memory phase stimulated a marked increase in the number of memory CD8(+) T cells, but the effects were transient. IL-7 therapy during contraction of the secondary CD8(+) T cell response also expanded the pool of memory CD8(+) T cells. Collectively, our studies show differential effects of IL-7 on memory CD8(+) T cell homeostasis and underscore the importance of the timing of IL-7 therapy to effectively improve CD8(+) T cell memory and protective immunity. These findings may have implications in the clinical use of IL-7 as an immunotherapeutic agent to bolster vaccine-induced CD8(+) T cell memory. |
