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αβ and γδ T-cell networks and their roles in natural resistance to viral infections
Journal article   Peer reviewed

αβ and γδ T-cell networks and their roles in natural resistance to viral infections

Raymond M Welsh, Meei-Yun Lin, Barbara L Lohman, Steven M Varga, Christopher C. Zarozinski and Liisa K Selin
Immunological reviews, Vol.159(1), pp.79-93
10/1997
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-065X.1997.tb01008.x
PMID: 9416504

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Abstract

Both αβ and γδ T-cell populations and natural killer (NK) cells include cytotoxic, interferon (IFN)-γ-producing lymphocytes that actively respond to viral infections. We show here that all three populations can provide “natural resistance“ of viruses very early in infection and describe how the T-tell populations are modulated TO provide this function. γδ T cells were shown to play a role in controlling vaccinia virus (VV) infections, as VV grew to much higher titers in γδ T-cell knockout mice than in normal mice 3–4 days post-infection. Our studies of the of T-cell responses to viruses revealed an interactive network of T cells that is modulated substantially during systemic infections. There is an induction phase associated with a massive virus-specific CD8 T-cell response, an apoptosis phase during which the T cells become sensitized to activation-induced ceil death (AICD). a silencing phase, during which the T-cell number and activation state is reduced, and. finally, a memory phase associated with the very stable preservation of virus-specific memory cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursors (pCTL). Infection of mice immune to one-H US with a heterologous virus leads to a selective expansion of memory CTL cross-reacting between the two viruses, but, after homeostasis is again established, there is a quantitative reduction and quantitative alteration of memory to the first virus. Our results suggest that memory of T cells cross-reactive between heterologous viruses mediate both immunopathology and protective immunity at early stages of the second viruses infection. Thus, memory αβ T cells can, like γδ T cells and NK cells, provide natural immunity to viral infections.
Animals Virus Diseases - immunology Humans Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta - immunology Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta - immunology T-Lymphocytes - immunology Immunity, Innate

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