TLR3 ligand stimulates fully functional memory CD8+ T cells in the absence of CD4+ T-cell help

Blood. 2007 Jun 15;109(12):5318-26. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-10-053256. Epub 2007 Mar 5.

Abstract

We investigated whether Toll-like receptor ligands (TLR-Ls) can bypass the requirement for CD4(+) T-cell help in the induction of fully efficient memory CD8(+) T cells (cytotoxic T lymphocytes [CTLs]). "Helpless" CTLs were induced by a synthetic CD8(+) T-cell epitope administered with TLR3-L and TLR9-L, but not with TLR2/6-L, TLR4-L, or TLR7-L. The up-regulation of MHC-I and costimulatory molecules by dendritic cells following TLR stimulation was not sufficient for the priming of "helpless" CTLs, which depended essentially on the induction of a strong IFN-alpha/beta response. The "helpless" CTLs induced by TLR-Ls differentiated into fully functional memory CTLs able to proliferate as well as their "helped" counterparts upon challenge, in the absence of CD4(+) T-cell help.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cross-Priming
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / administration & dosage
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / pharmacology
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / physiology*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Ligands
  • TLR3 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3