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Improved memory CD8 T cell response to delayed vaccine boost is associated with a distinct molecular signature.

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-03-06, 12:04 authored by Ambra Natalini, Sonia Simonetti, Gabriele Favaretto, Lorenzo Lucantonio, Giovanna Peruzzi, Miguel Muñoz-Ruiz, Gavin Kelly, Alessandra M Contino, Roberta Sbrocchi, Simone Battella, Stefania Capone, Antonella Folgori, Alfredo Nicosia, Angela Santoni, Adrian C Hayday, Francesca Di Rosa
Effective secondary response to antigen is a hallmark of immunological memory. However, the extent of memory CD8 T cell response to secondary boost varies at different times after a primary response. Considering the central role of memory CD8 T cells in long-lived protection against viral infections and tumors, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the changing responsiveness of these cells to antigenic challenge would be beneficial. We examined here primed CD8 T cell response to boost in a BALB/c mouse model of intramuscular vaccination by priming with HIV-1 gag-encoding Chimpanzee adenovector, and boosting with HIV-1 gag-encoding Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara. We found that boost was more effective at day(d)100 than at d30 post-prime, as evaluated at d45 post-boost by multi-lymphoid organ assessment of gag-specific CD8 T cell frequency, CD62L-expression (as a guide to memory status) and in vivo killing. RNA-sequencing of splenic gag-primed CD8 T cells at d100 revealed a quiescent, but highly responsive signature, that trended toward a central memory (CD62L+) phenotype. Interestingly, gag-specific CD8 T cell frequency selectively diminished in the blood at d100, relative to the spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow. These results open the possibility to modify prime/boost intervals to achieve an improved memory CD8 T cell secondary response.

Funding

Crick (Grant ID: CC1107, Grant title: STP Bioinformatics & Biostatistics) Crick (Grant ID: 10093, Grant title: Hayday FC001093)

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