CD8⁺ T cells with an intraepithelial phenotype upregulate cytotoxic function upon influenza infection in human lung.

ABSTRACT: The human lung T cell compartment contains many CD8⁺ T cells specific for respiratory viruses, suggesting that the lung is protected from recurring respiratory infections by a resident T cell pool. The entry site for respiratory viruses is the epithelium, in which a subset of lung CD8⁺ T cells expressing CD103 (αE integrin) resides. Here, we determined the specificity and function of CD103⁺CD8⁺ T cells in protecting human lung against viral infection. Mononuclear cells were isolated from human blood and lung resection samples. Variable numbers of CD103⁺CD8⁺ T cells were retrieved from the lung tissue. Interestingly, expression of CD103 was seen only in lung CD8⁺ T cells specific for influenza but not in those specific for EBV or CMV. CD103⁺ and influenza-reactive cells preferentially expre

SUBMITTER: Piet B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3104744 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature