Publication: Cutting edge: CD8+ T cell priming in the absence of NK cells leads to enhanced memory responses.

Published in: Journal of Immunology, 2011, 186 (6), pp.3304-8. ⟨10.4049/jimmunol.1004122⟩

Authors: Katrina Soderquest, Thierry Walzer, Biljana Zafirova, Linda S Klavinskis, Bojan Polić, Eric Vivier, Graham M Lord, Alfonso Martín-Fontecha

Summary

It is uncertain whether NK cells modulate T cell memory differentiation. By using a genetic model that allows the selective depletion of NK cells, we show in this study that NK cells shape CD8(+) T cell fate by killing recently activated CD8(+) T cells in an NKG2D- and perforin-dependent manner. In the absence of NK cells, the differentiation of CD8(+) T cells is strongly biased toward a central memory T cell phenotype. Although, on a per-cell basis, memory CD8(+) T cells generated in the presence or the absence of NK cells have similar functional features and recall capabilities, NK cell deletion resulted in a significantly higher number of memory Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells, leading to more effective control of tumors carrying model Ags. The enhanced memory responses induced by the transient deletion of NK cells may provide a rational basis for the design of new vaccination strategies.

Link to HAL – hal-00608178

Link to DOI – 10.4049/jimmunol.1004122