OX40 costimulatory signals potentiate the memory commitment of effector CD8+ T cells

J Immunol. 2008 Nov 1;181(9):5990-6001. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.181.9.5990.

Abstract

A T cell costimulatory molecule, OX40, contributes to T cell expansion, survival, and cytokine production. Although several roles for OX40 in CD8(+) T cell responses to tumors and viral infection have been shown, the precise function of these signals in the generation of memory CD8(+) T cells remains to be elucidated. To address this, we examined the generation and maintenance of memory CD8(+) T cells during infection with Listeria monocytogenes in the presence and absence of OX40 signaling. We used the expression of killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 (KLRG1), a recently reported marker, to distinguish between short-lived effector and memory precursor effector T cells (MPECs). Although OX40 was dispensable for the generation of effector T cells in general, the lack of OX40 signals significantly reduced the number and proportion of KLRG1(low) MPECs, and, subsequently, markedly impaired the generation of memory CD8(+) T cells. Moreover, memory T cells that were generated in the absence of OX40 signals in a host animal did not show self-renewal in a second host, suggesting that OX40 is important for the maintenance of memory T cells. Additional experiments making use of an inhibitory mAb against the OX40 ligand demonstrated that OX40 signals are essential during priming, not only for the survival of KLRG1(low) MPECs, but also for their self-renewing ability, both of which contribute to the homeostasis of memory CD8(+) T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / physiology*
  • Animals
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / microbiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Immunologic Memory* / genetics
  • Lectins, C-Type / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Lectins, C-Type / physiology
  • Listeria monocytogenes / genetics
  • Listeria monocytogenes / immunology
  • Listeriosis / immunology
  • Listeriosis / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / deficiency
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • OX40 Ligand
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Receptors, OX40 / deficiency
  • Receptors, OX40 / genetics
  • Receptors, OX40 / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • Stem Cells / immunology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / microbiology
  • Trans-Activators / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Trans-Activators / physiology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factors / deficiency
  • Tumor Necrosis Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • KLRG1 protein, human
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • OX40 Ligand
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Receptors, OX40
  • Tnfrsf4 protein, mouse
  • Tnfsf4 protein, mouse
  • Trans-Activators
  • Tumor Necrosis Factors