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ABSTRACT: Background
CD4+ T cells are a critical component of effective immune responses to varicella zoster virus (VZV), but their functional properties during the reactivation acute vs latent phase of infection remain poorly defined.Methods
Here we assessed the functional and transcriptomic properties of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells in persons with acute herpes zoster (HZ) compared to those with a prior history of HZ infection using multicolor flow cytometry and RNA sequencing.Results
We found significant differences between the polyfunctionality of VZV-specific total memory, effector memory, and central memory CD4+ T cells in acute vs prior HZ. VZV-specific CD4+ memory T-cell responses in acute HZ reactivation had higher frequencies of IFN-γ and IL-2 producing cells compared to those with prior HZ. In addition, cytotoxic markers were higher in VZV-specific CD4+ T cells than non-VZV-specific cells. Transcriptomic analysis of ex vivo total memory CD4+ T cells from these individuals showed differential regulation of T-cell survival and differentiation pathways, including TCR, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), T helper, inflammation, and MTOR signaling pathways. These gene signatures correlated with the frequency of IFN-γ and IL-2 producing cells responding to VZV.Conclusions
In summary, VZV-specific CD4+ T cells from acute HZ individuals had unique functional and transcriptomic features, and VZV-specific CD4+ T cells as a group had a higher expression of cytotoxic molecules including Perforin, Granzyme-B, and CD107a.
SUBMITTER: Jin W
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9973729 | biostudies-literature | 2022
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Pathogens & immunity 20220101 2
<h4>Background</h4>CD4+ T cells are a critical component of effective immune responses to varicella zoster virus (VZV), but their functional properties during the reactivation acute vs latent phase of infection remain poorly defined.<h4>Methods</h4>Here we assessed the functional and transcriptomic properties of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells in persons with acute herpes zoster (HZ) compared to those with a prior history of HZ infection using multicolor flow cytometry and RNA sequencing.<h4>Resul ...[more]