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Immunity & Ageing
Published in: Immunity & Ageing 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

Virtual memory cells make a major contribution to the response of aged influenza-naïve mice to influenza virus infection

Authors: Kathleen G. Lanzer, Tres Cookenham, William W. Reiley, Marcia A. Blackman

Published in: Immunity & Ageing | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

A diverse repertoire of naïve T cells is thought to be essential for a robust response to new infections. However, a key aspect of aging of the T cell compartment is a decline in numbers and diversity of peripheral naïve T cells. We have hypothesized that the age-related decline in naïve T cells forces the immune system to respond to new infections using cross-reactive memory T cells generated to previous infections that dominate the aged peripheral T cell repertoire.

Results

Here we confirm that the CD8 T cell response of aged, influenza-naïve mice to primary infection with influenza virus is dominated by T cells that derive from the memory T cell pool. These cells exhibit the phenotypic characteristics of virtual memory cells rather than true memory cells. Furthermore, we find that the repertoire of responding CD8 T cells is constrained compared with that of young mice, and differs significantly between individual aged mice. After infection, these virtual memory CD8 T cells effectively develop into granzyme-producing effector cells, and clear virus with kinetics comparable to naïve CD8 T cells from young mice.

Conclusions

The response of aged, influenza-naive mice to a new influenza infection is mediated largely by memory CD8 T cells. However, unexpectedly, they have the phenotype of VM cells. In response to de novo influenza virus infection, the VM cells develop into granzyme-producing effector cells and clear virus with comparable kinetics to young CD8 T cells.
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Metadata
Title
Virtual memory cells make a major contribution to the response of aged influenza-naïve mice to influenza virus infection
Authors
Kathleen G. Lanzer
Tres Cookenham
William W. Reiley
Marcia A. Blackman
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Immunity & Ageing / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1742-4933
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12979-018-0122-y

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