Innate-like CD4 T cells selected by thymocytes suppress adaptive immune responses against bacterial infections

Yu Qiao, Brian M. Gray, Mohammed H. Sofi, Laura D. Bauler, Kathryn A. Eaton, Mary X. D. O’Riordan, Cheong-Hee Chang

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Unit for Lab Animal Medicine, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/oji.2012.21004                

Abstract

We have reported a new innate-like CD4 T cell population that expresses cell surface makers of effector/memory cells and produce Th1 and Th2 cytokines immediately upon activation. Unlike conventional CD4 T cells that are selected by thymic epithelial cells, these CD4 T cells, named T-CD4 T cells, are selected by MHC class II expressing thymocytes. Previously, we showed that the presence of T-CD4 T cells protected mice from airway inflammation suggesting an immune regulatory role of T-CD4 T cells. To further understand the function of T-CD4 T cells, we investigated immune responses mediated by T-CD4 T cells during bacterial infection because the generation of antigen specific CD4 T cells contributes to clearance of infection and for the development of immune memory. The current study shows a suppressive effect of T-CD4 T cells on both CD8 and CD4 T cell-mediated immune responses during Listeria and Helicobacter infections. In the mouse model of Listeria monocytogenes infection, T-CD4 T cells resulted in decreasedfrequency of Listeria-specific CD8 T cells and the killing activity of them. Furthermore, mice with T-CD4 T cells developed poor immune memory, demonstrated by reduced expansion of antigen-specific T cells and high bacterial burden upon re-infection. Similarly, the presence of T-CD4 T cells suppressed the generation of antigen-specific CD4 T cells in Helicobacter pylori infected mice. Thus, our studies reveal a novel function of T-CD4 T cells in sup-pressing anti-bacterial immunity.

Keywords

Bacterial Infection; Innate-Like CD4 T Cells; Immune Suppression

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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