| First Author | Longhi MP | Year | 2008 |
| Journal | PLoS Pathog | Volume | 4 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | e1000006 |
| PubMed ID | 18389078 | Mgi Jnum | J:162212 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:4818332 | Doi | 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000006 |
| Citation | Longhi MP, et al. (2008) Interleukin-6 is crucial for recall of influenza-specific memory CD4 T cells. PLoS Pathog 4(2):e1000006 |
| abstractText | Currently, our understanding of mechanisms underlying cell-mediated immunity and particularly of mechanisms that promote robust T cell memory to respiratory viruses is incomplete. Interleukin (IL)-6 has recently re-emerged as an important regulator of T cell proliferation and survival. Since IL-6 is abundant following infection with influenza virus, we analyzed virus-specific T cell activity in both wild type and IL-6 deficient mice. Studies outlined herein highlight a novel role for IL-6 in the development of T cell memory to influenza virus. Specifically, we find that CD4+ but not CD8+ T cell memory is critically dependent upon IL-6. This effect of IL-6 includes its ability to suppress CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg). We demonstrate that influenza-induced IL-6 limits the activity of virus-specific Tregs, thereby facilitating the activity of virus-specific memory CD4+ T cells. These experiments reveal a critical role for IL-6 in ensuring, within the timeframe of an acute infection with a cytopathic virus, that antigen-specific Tregs have no opportunity to down-modulate the immune response, thereby favoring pathogen clearance and survival of the host. |
