摘要
Cytokine storm has been postulated as one of the major causes of mortality in patients with severe respiratory viral infections such as influenza. With the help of an influenza Ag-specific mouse experimental system, we report that CD4(+) T cells contribute effector cytokines leading to lung inflammation in acute influenza. Although virus can no longer be detected from tissues 14 d post-infection, virus-derived Ag continues to drive a CD4(+) T cell response after viral clearance. Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells proliferate and evolve into memory CD4(+) T cells efficiently, but the production of effector cytokines is seriously hampered during this phase. This decoupling of proliferation and effector cytokine production doesn%26apos;t appear in conjunction with increased suppression by regulatory T cells or decreased induction of transcription factors. Rather, GATA-3 and ROR-gamma t levels are elevated when compared with cells that have effector cytokine production. T-bet dominance over GATA-3 and ROR-gamma t decreases with the disarmament of effector cytokine production. Importantly, upon reinfection, these decoupled cells produce elevated levels of IFN-gamma and were effective in virus eradication. These results provide a mechanism through altered T-bet dominance to dampen the cytokine storm without impeding the generation of memory T cells in influenza virus infection. The Journal of Immunology, 2013, 190: 4205-4214.
- 出版日期2013-4-15
- 单位长春大学