CXCR3 directs antigen-specific effector CD4+ T cell migration to the lung during parainfluenza virus infection

JE Kohlmeier, T Cookenham, SC Miller… - The Journal of …, 2009 - journals.aai.org
JE Kohlmeier, T Cookenham, SC Miller, AD Roberts, JP Christensen, AR Thomsen
The Journal of Immunology, 2009journals.aai.org
Effector T cells are a crucial component of the adaptive immune response to respiratory virus
infections. Although it was previously reported that the chemokine receptors CCR5 and
CXCR3 affect trafficking of respiratory virus-specific CD8+ T cells, it is unclear whether these
receptors govern effector CD4+ T cell migration to the lungs. To assess the role of CCR5
and CXCR3 in vivo, we directly compared the migration of Ag-specific wild-type and
chemokine receptor-deficient effector T cells in mixed bone marrow chimeric mice during a …
Abstract
Effector T cells are a crucial component of the adaptive immune response to respiratory virus infections. Although it was previously reported that the chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR3 affect trafficking of respiratory virus-specific CD8+ T cells, it is unclear whether these receptors govern effector CD4+ T cell migration to the lungs. To assess the role of CCR5 and CXCR3 in vivo, we directly compared the migration of Ag-specific wild-type and chemokine receptor-deficient effector T cells in mixed bone marrow chimeric mice during a parainfluenza virus infection. CXCR3-deficient effector CD4+ T cells were 5-to 10-fold less efficient at migrating to the lung compared with wild-type cells, whereas CCR5-deficient effector T cells were not impaired in their migration to the lung. In contrast to its role in trafficking, CXCR3 had no impact on effector CD4+ T cell proliferation, phenotype, or function in any of the tissues examined. These findings demonstrate that CXCR3 controls virus-specific effector CD4+ T cell migration in vivo, and suggest that blocking CXCR3-mediated recruitment may limit T cell-induced immunopathology during respiratory virus infections.
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