The avid competitors of memory inflation

Curr Opin Virol. 2020 Oct:44:162-168. doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2020.08.007. Epub 2020 Oct 8.

Abstract

Cytomegaloviruses (CMV) coevolve with their hosts and latently persist in the vast majority of adult mammals. Therefore, persistent T-cell responses to CMV antigens during virus latency offer a fascinating perspective on the evolution of the T-cell repertoire in natural settings. We addressed here the life-long interactions between CMV antigens presented on MHC-I molecules and the CD8 T-cell response. We present the mechanistic evidence from the murine model of CMV infection and put it in context of clinical laboratory results. We will highlight the remarkable parallels in T-cell responses between the two biological systems, and focus in particular on memory inflation as a result of competitive processes, both between viral antigenic peptides and between T-cell receptors on the host's cytotoxic lymphocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / immunology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Mice
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • Virus Activation
  • Virus Latency

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral