CpG pretreatment enhances antiviral T-cell immunity against cytomegalovirus

Monique Ong, Matthew E Wikstrom, Peter Fleming, Marie J Estcourt, Paul John Hertzog, Geoffrey R Hill, Christopher E Andoniou, Mariapia A Degli-Esposti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted T-cell immunity is essential to control infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV), a clinically important virus that causes significant disease in immunocompromised individuals. Cross-presentation is considered the primary mode of antigen presentation to generate protective antiviral CD8+ T-cell immunity. Herpesviruses, including CMV, encode numerous proteins that interfere with direct antigen presentation, leading to the paradigm that T-cell immunity to these pathogens necessitates cross-presentation. However, the antigen presentation requirements needed to generate a protective T-cell response to CMV remain unknown. Here, we show that a fully functional antiviral CD8+ T-cell response can be generated in a system where cross-presentation is shut down by pretreatment with CpG. Notably, in this setting, CD8+ T cells demonstrate accelerated control of infection, and organ pathology is limited. These data indicate that protective antiviral T-cell immunity to CMV is generated by direct presentation and can be enhanced by pretreatment with CpG.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)55 - 60
Number of pages6
JournalBlood
Volume122
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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