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  • Chronic viral infection promotes sustained Th1-derived immunoregulatory IL-10 via BLIMP-1.

Chronic viral infection promotes sustained Th1-derived immunoregulatory IL-10 via BLIMP-1.

The Journal of clinical investigation (2014-07-09)
Ian A Parish, Heather D Marshall, Matthew M Staron, Philipp A Lang, Anne Brüstle, Jonathan H Chen, Weiguo Cui, Yao-Chen Tsui, Curtis Perry, Brian J Laidlaw, Pamela S Ohashi, Casey T Weaver, Susan M Kaech
ABSTRACT

During the course of many chronic viral infections, the antiviral T cell response becomes attenuated through a process that is regulated in part by the host. While elevated expression of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10 is involved in the suppression of viral-specific T cell responses, the relevant cellular sources of IL-10, as well as the pathways responsible for IL-10 induction, remain unclear. In this study, we traced IL-10 production over the course of chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection in an IL-10 reporter mouse line. Using this model, we demonstrated that virus-specific T cells with reduced inflammatory function, particularly Th1 cells, display elevated and sustained IL-10 expression during chronic LCMV infection. Furthermore, ablation of IL-10 from the T cell compartment partially restored T cell function and reduced viral loads in LCMV-infected animals. We found that viral persistence is needed for sustained IL-10 production by Th1 cells and that the transcription factor BLIMP-1 is required for IL-10 expression by Th1 cells. Restimulation of Th1 cells from LCMV-infected mice promoted BLIMP-1 and subsequent IL-10 expression, suggesting that constant antigen exposure likely induces the BLIMP-1/IL-10 pathway during chronic viral infection. Together, these data indicate that effector T cells self-limit their responsiveness during persistent viral infection via an IL-10-dependent negative feedback loop.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Rat IL-10 ELISA Kit, for serum, plasma and cell culture supernatant
Sigma-Aldrich
Rat IL-10 ELISA Kit, for cell and tissue lysates
Sigma-Aldrich
Human IL-10 R β ELISA Kit, for serum, plasma, cell culture supernatant and urine
Sigma-Aldrich
Mouse IL-10 ELISA Kit, for serum, plasma and cell culture supernatant
Sigma-Aldrich
Human IL-10 ELISA Kit