IL-21 Is Important for Induction of KLRG1+ Effector CD8 T Cells during Acute Intracellular Infection.

ABSTRACT: Microsporidia, a latent opportunistic infection associated with mild inflammation, is characterized by a strong CD8 T cell response, which has been shown to be CD4 T cell dependent. In this manuscript, we demonstrate that CD4 help is provided via IL-21 production, a common γ-chain cytokine closely related to IL-2. The peak of IL-21 expression, observed during the acute infection, is associated with an elevated IL-21(+) CD4 T subset, and these cells bear a phenotypic resemblance to T follicular helper cells. We observed that, during per-oral microsporidial infection, IL-21 was critical for the generation of an optimal effector CD8 T cell immunity. Sharply decreased effector KLRG1(+) CD8 response was observed in IL-21R knockout mice, and although these cells exhibited reduced functional prop

SUBMITTER: Moretto MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4959448 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature