Galectin-9/TIM-3 interaction regulates virus-specific primary and memory CD8 T cell response.

ABSTRACT: In this communication, we demonstrate that galectin (Gal)-9 acts to constrain CD8(+) T cell immunity to Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infection. In support of this, we show that animals unable to produce Gal-9, because of gene knockout, develop acute and memory responses to HSV that are of greater magnitude and better quality than those that occur in normal infected animals. Interestingly, infusion of normal infected mice with alpha-lactose, the sugar that binds to the carbohydrate-binding domain of Gal-9 limiting its engagement of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin (TIM-3) receptors, also caused a more elevated and higher quality CD8(+) T cell response to HSV particularly in the acute phase. Such sugar treated infected mice also had expanded populations of effector as well as memory CD8(+) T ce

SUBMITTER: Sehrawat S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2865527 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature