Absence of both IL-7 and IL-15 severely impairs the development of CD8 T cell response against Toxoplasma gondii.

ABSTRACT: CD8(+) T cells play an essential role in the protection against both acute as well as chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection. Although the role of IL-15 has been reported to be important for the development of long-term CD8(+) T cell immunity against the pathogen, the simultaneous roles played by both IL-15 and related gamma-chain family cytokine IL-7 in the generation of this response during acute phase of infection has not been described. We demonstrate that while lack of IL-7 or IL-15 alone has minimal impact on splenic CD8(+) T cell maturation or effector function development during acute Toxoplasmosis, absence of both IL-7 and IL-15 only in the context of infection severely down-regulates the development of a potent CD8(+) T cell response. This impairment is characterized by reduction in

SUBMITTER: Bhadra R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2877110 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature