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ABSTRACTType 1 T-cell responses against intracellular pathogens play a crucial role in mediating protection. We examined whether the induction of a strong type 1 T-cell response during a chronic bacterial infection influences responses to superantigens capable of inducing acute shock. Intravenous infection of mice with Mycobacterium bovisBCG appeared to induce a progressive anergy towards staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and towards antigen preparation of BCG (BCG-Ag) itself, based on diminished gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production by SEB- and BCG-Ag-stimulated splenocytes from infected mice. In contrast to these in vitro results, injection of SEB into BCG-infected mice led to a dramatic increase in the serum IFN-γ levels and the death of infected but not of control mice. In vitro hyporesponsiveness towards SEB and BCG-Ag occurred only with unfractionated splenocyte cultures, as purified T cells from infected mice produced higher levels of IFN-γ. Hyporesponsiveness towards SEB and BCG-Ag in unfractionated splenocyte cultures was not due to suppressive antigen-presenting cells (APCs), as APCs from infected mice stimulated higher levels of IFN-γ from purified T cells. The diminished IFN-γ levels observed with bulk splenocytes appear to be due to changes in the T-cell-to-APC ratio that result in a decreased proportion of T cells, coupled to reduced proliferative responses and an increased susceptibility of effector T cells to activation-induced cell death in vitro. Our results indicate that the reported phenomena of T-cell anergy during mycobacterial infection may be an in vitro consequence of the development of a strong type 1 response in vivo.

ABSTRACTInduction of T-cell memory by vaccination ensures long-term protection against pathogens. We determined whether on-going inflammatory responses during vaccination influenced T-cell priming. A preexposure of mice to Mycobacterium bovisBCG impaired their subsequent ability to prime T cells against Listeria monocytogenes. This was characterized by a decrease in L. monocytogenes-specific gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-secreting CD4+and CD8+T cells. The intensity of T-cell priming towards L. monocytogenesdepended on the extent of L. monocytogenesexpansion, and a cessation of this expansion caused by M. bovisBCG-induced inflammation resulted in impairment in T-cell priming. A challenge of M. bovisBCG-infected mice with a higher L. monocytogenesdose increased L. monocytogenessurvival and restored T-cell priming towards L. monocytogenes. Impairment in T-cell priming towards L. monocytogenesdue to M. bovisBCG-induced inflammation resulted in a compromised protective efficacy in the long term after mice were rechallenged with L. monocytogenes. Preexisting inflammation selectively impaired T-cell priming for replicating immunogens as CD8+T-cell response to ovalbumin administered as an inert antigen (ovalbumin-archaeosomes) was enhanced by M. bovisBCG preimmunization, whereas priming towards ovalbumin administered as a live immunogen (L. monocytogenes-ovalbumin) was impaired. Thus, depending on the nature of the immunogen, the presence of prior inflammatory responses may either impede or boost vaccine efficacy.

Induction of T-cell memory by vaccination ensures long-term protection against pathogens. We determined whether on-going inflammatory responses during vaccination influenced T-cell priming. A preexposure of mice to Mycobacterium bovis BCG impaired their subsequent ability to prime T cells against Listeria monocytogenes. This was characterized by a decrease in L. monocytogenes-specific gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-secreting CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. The intensity of T-cell priming towards L. monocytogenes depended on the extent of L. monocytogenes expansion, and a cessation of this expansion caused by M. bovis BCG-induced inflammation resulted in impairment in T-cell priming. A challenge of M. bovis BCG-infected mice with a higher L. monocytogenes dose increased L. monocytogenes survival and restored T-cell priming towards L. monocytogenes. Impairment in T-cell priming towards L. monocytogenes due to M. bovis BCG-induced inflammation resulted in a compromised protective efficacy in the long term after mice were rechallenged with L. monocytogenes. Preexisting inflammation selectively impaired T-cell priming for replicating immunogens as CD8(+) T-cell response to ovalbumin administered as an inert antigen (ovalbumin-archaeosomes) was enhanced by M. bovis BCG preimmunization, whereas priming towards ovalbumin administered as a live immunogen (L. monocytogenes-ovalbumin) was impaired. Thus, depending on the nature of the immunogen, the presence of prior inflammatory responses may either impede or boost vaccine efficacy.