Influenza virus-specific immunological memory is enhanced by repeated social defeat.

Abstract

Immunological memory (MEM) development is affected by stress-induced neuroendocrine mediators. Current knowledge about how a behavioral interaction, such as social defeat, alters the development of adaptive immunity, and MEM is incomplete. In this study, the experience of social disruption stress (SDR) prior to a primary influenza viral infection enhanced the frequency and function of the T cell memory pool. Socially stressed mice had a significantly enlarged population of CD8(+) T cells specific for the immunodominant NP366-74 epitope of A/PR/8/34 virus in lung and spleen tissues at 6-12 wk after primary infection (resting memory). Moreover, during resting memory, SDR-MEM mice responded with an enhanced footpad delayed-type hypersensitivity response, and more IFN-gamma-producing CD4(+) T cells were detected after ex vivo stimulation. When mice were rechallenged with A/PR/8/34 virus, SDR-MEM mice terminated viral gene expression significantly earlier than MEM mice and generated a greater D(b)NP(366-74)CD8(+) T cell response in the lung parenchyma and airways. This enhancement was specific to the T cell response. SDR-MEM mice had significantly attenuated anti-influenza IgG titers during resting memory. Similar experiments in which mice were primed with X-31 influenza and challenged with A/PR/8/34 virus elicited similar enhancements in the splenic and lung airway D(b)NP(366-74)CD8(+) T cell populations in SDR-MEM mice. This study demonstrates that the experience of repeated social defeat prior to a primary viral infection significantly enhances virus-specific memory via augmentation of memory T cell populations and suggests that social stressors should be carefully considered in the design and analysis of future studies on antiviral immunity.

• Authors: Jacqueline W Mays, Michael T Bailey, John T Hunzeker, Nicole D Powell, Tracey Papenfuss, Erik A Karlsson, David A Padgett, John F Sheridan
• Journal: Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) (J Immunol) Vol. 184 Issue 4 Pg. 2014-25 (Feb 15 2010) ISSN: 1550-6606 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20083672 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Viral
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte

Topics

• Animals
• Antigens, Viral (administration & dosage, immunology)
• Behavior, Animal
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology, virology)
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte (immunology)
• Hypersensitivity, Delayed (immunology, psychology)
• Immunologic Memory
• Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype (immunology)
• Influenza A virus (immunology)
• Lung (immunology, virology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Orthomyxoviridae Infections (immunology, psychology)
• Stress, Psychological (immunology, virology)