NK Cells Help To Induce CD8+-T-Cell Immunity againstToxoplasma gondiiin the Absence of CD4+T Cells
Open Access
- 1 August 2005
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Society for Microbiology in Infection and Immunity
- Vol. 73 (8), 4913-4921
- https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.73.8.4913-4921.2005
Abstract
CD8+ T-cell immunity plays an important role in protection against intracellular infections. Earlier studies have shown that CD4+ T-cell help was needed for launching in vivo CD8+ T-cell activity against these pathogens and tumors. However, recently CD4+ T-cell-independent CD8 responses during several microbial infections including those with Toxoplasma gondii have been described, although the mechanism is not understood. We now demonstrate that, in the absence of CD4+ T cells, T. gondii-infected mice exhibit an extended NK cell response, which is mediated by continued interleukin-12 (IL-12) secretion. This prolonged NK cell response is critical for priming parasite-specific CD8+ T-cell immunity. Depletion of NK cells inhibited the generation of CD8+ T-cell immunity in CD4−/− mice. Similarly neutralization of IL-12 reduces NK cell numbers in infected animals and leads to the down-regulation of CD8+ T-cell immunity against T. gondii. Adoptive transfer of NK cells into the IL-12-depleted animals restored their CD8+ T-cell immune response, and animals exhibited reduced mortality. NK cell gamma interferon was essential for cytotoxic T-lymphocyte priming. Our studies for the first time demonstrate that, in the absence of CD4+ T cells, NK cells can play an important role in induction of primary CD8+ T-cell immunity against an intracellular infection. These observations have therapeutic implications for immunocompromised individuals, including those with human immunodeficiency virus infection.Keywords
This publication has 56 references indexed in Scilit:
- Both IL‐12 and IL‐18 contribute to small intestinal Th1‐type immunopathology following oral infection with Toxoplasma gondii, but IL‐12 is dominant over IL‐18 in parasite controlEuropean Journal of Immunology, 2004
- Complementary Role of CD4+ T Cells and Secondary Lymphoid Tissues for Cross-presentation of Tumor Antigen to CD8+ T CellsThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2003
- Treatment with Soluble Interleukin-15Rα Exacerbates Intracellular Parasitic Infection by Blocking the Development of Memory CD8+ T Cell ResponseThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2002
- CD8+-T-Cell Immunity againstToxoplasma gondiiCan Be Induced but Not Maintained in Mice Lacking Conventional CD4+T CellsInfection and Immunity, 2002
- Migratory Properties of Naive, Effector, and Memory Cd8+ T CellsThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2001
- Interleukin-18 (IL-18) Enhances Innate IL-12-Mediated Resistance toToxoplasma gondiiInfection and Immunity, 2000
- Diminished Primary and Secondary Influenza Virus-Specific CD8+T-Cell Responses in CD4-Depleted Ig−/−MiceJournal of Virology, 2000
- Blockade of endogenous interleukin 12 results in suppression of murine streptococcal cell wall arthritis by enhancement of interleukin 10 and interleukin 1RaAnnals Of The Rheumatic Diseases, 2000
- SYNERGISTIC PROLIFERATION AND ACTIVATION OF NATURAL KILLER CELLS BY INTERLEUKIN 12 AND INTERLEUKIN 18Cytokine, 1999
- Normal development and function of CD8+ cells but markedly decreased helper cell activity in mice lacking CD4Nature, 1991