T-bet optimizes CD4 T-cell responses against influenza through CXCR3-dependent lung trafficking but not functional programming.

ABSTRACT: Although clearance of many intracellular pathogens requires T-bet-dependent CD4 T cell programming, the extent to which T-bet is needed to direct protective CD4 responses against influenza is not known. Here, we characterize wild-type and T-bet-deficient CD4 cells during murine influenza infection. Surprisingly, although T-bet expression has broad impacts on cytokine production by virus-specific CD4 cells, the protective efficacy of T-bet-deficient effector cells is only marginally reduced. This reduction is due to lower CXCR3 expression, leading to suboptimal accumulation of activated T-bet-deficient cells in the infected lung. However, T-bet-deficient cells outcompete wild-type cells to form lung-resident and circulating memory populations following viral clearance, and primed T-bet-defi

SUBMITTER: Dhume K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6717559 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature