Rapid on/off cycling of cytokine production by virus-specific CD8+ T cells

摘要: CD8-positive T cells protect the body against viral pathogens by two important mechanisms: production of antiviral cytokines1,2 and lysis infected cells3,4. Cytokine can have both local systemic consequences5,6, whereas cytolytic activity is limited to that are in direct contact with cells7,8,9. Here we analyse activated from mice lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus find cytokines not produced ex vivo absence peptide stimulation, but they rapidly generated after encounter peptides bound major histocompatibility complex. Remarkably, cytokine ceases immediately upon dissociation their targets resumes when antigenic restored. In contrast ‘on/off/on’ cycling cytokines, pore-forming cytotoxic protein perforin constitutively maintained. Our results indicate there differential expression effector molecules according whether product secreted (like cytokines) or stored inside cell perforin). The ability turn on off while maintaining intracellular stores shows versatility cellular immune response provides a mechanism for effective surveillance reducing immunopathology.