Both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes participate in the IFN-y response to filamentous hemagglutinin from Bordetella pertussis in infants, children and adults

Infant CD4+ T-cell responses to bacterial infections or vaccines have been extensively studied, whereas studies on CD8 + T-cell responses focused mainly on viral and intracellular parasite infections. Here we investigated CD8 + T-cell responses upon Bordetella pertussis infection in infants, children, and adults and pertussis vaccination in infants. Filamentous hemagglutinin-specific IFN-γ secretion by circulating lymphocytes was blocked by anti-MHC-I or -MHC-II antibodies, suggesting that CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes are involved in IFN-γ production. Flow cytometry analyses confirmed that both cell types synthesized antigen-specific IFN-γ, although CD4 + lymphocytes were the major source of this cytokine. IFN-γ synthesis by CD8 + cells was CD4 + T cell dependent, as evidenced by selective depletion experiments. Furthermore, IFN-γ synthesis by CD4 + cells was sometimes inhibited by CD8 + lymphocytes, suggesting the presence of CD8 + regulatory T cells. The role of this dual IFN-γ secretion by CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes in pertussis remains to be investigated. © 2012 Violette Dirix et al.

SCOPUS: ar.j

info:eu-repo/semantics/published