Evidence for a Type 2 Bias in the CD8+ T-Cell Response to Epstein-Barr Virus Following Heart Transplantation

Acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection results in an unusually robust CD8+ T cell response in young adults. Based on mouse studies, such a response would be predicted to result in attrition of preexisting memory to heterologous infections like influenza A (Flu) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Furthermore, many studies have attempted to define the lymphocytosis that occurs during acute EBV infection in humans, but it is unclear whether bystander T cells contribute to it. To address these issues, we performed a longitudinal prospective study of primary EBV infection in humans. During acute EBV infection, both preexisting CMV- and Flu-specific memory CD8+ T cells showed signs of bystander activation, including up-regulation of granzyme B. However, they generally did not expand, suggesting that the profound CD8+ lymphocytosis associated with acute EBV infection is composed largely of EBV-specific T cells. Importantly, the numbers of CMV- and Flu-specific T cells were comparable before and after acute EBV infection. The data support the concept that, in humans, a robust CD8+ T cell response creates a new memory CD8+ T cell niche without substantially depleting preexisting memory for heterologous infections.

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Epitope-specific Evolution of Human CD8+ T Cell Responses from Primary to Persistent Phases of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.20011692 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 195 (7) ◽

pp. 893-905 ◽

Cited By ~ 196

Author(s):

Andrew D. Hislop ◽

Nicola E. Annels ◽

Nancy H. Gudgeon ◽

Alison M. Leese ◽

Alan B. Rickinson

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

Virus Infection ◽

Cell Response ◽

Epstein Barr Virus ◽

Cd8 T Cell ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Lytic Cycle ◽

Phenotypic Change ◽

Barr Virus ◽

Epstein Barr

Primary virus infection often elicits a large CD8+ T cell response which subsequently contracts to a smaller memory T cell pool; the relationship between these two virus-specific populations is not well understood. Here we follow the human CD8+ T cell response to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) from its primary phase in infectious mononucleosis (IM) through to the persistent carrier state. Using HLA-A2.1 or B8 tetramers specific for four lytic cycle and three latent cycle epitopes, we find marked differences in the epitope-specific composition of the T cell populations between the two phases of infection. The primary response is dominated by lytic epitope specificities which are severely culled (and in one case extinguished) with resolution of the acute infection; in contrast latent epitope specificities are less abundant, if present at all, in acute IM but often then increase their percentage representation in the CD8 pool. Even comparing epitopes of the same type, the relative size of responses seen in primary infection does not necessarily correlate with that seen in the longer term. We also follow the evolution of phenotypic change in these populations and show that, from a uniform CD45RA−RO+CCR7− phenotype in IM, lytic epitope responses show greater reversion to a CD45RA+RO− phenotype whereas latent epitope responses remain CD45RA−RO+ with a greater tendency to acquire CCR7. Interestingly these phenotypic distinctions reflect the source of the epitope as lytic or latent, and not the extent to which the response has been amplified in vivo.

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