Key Points
Batf3 expression by CD8 T cells critically regulates memory T cell development.
Batf3−/− CD8 T cells undergo increased apoptosis during contraction.
Batf3−/− CD8 T cells have an impaired recall ability but remain functional.
Abstract
The basic leucine zipper transcription factor ATF-like 3 (BATF3) is required for the development of conventional type 1 dendritic cells that are essential for cross-presentation and CD8 T cell–mediated immunity against intracellular pathogens and tumors. However, whether BATF3 intrinsically regulates CD8 T cell responses is not well studied. In this article, we report a role for cell-intrinsic Batf3 expression in regulating the establishment of circulating and resident memory T cells after foodborne Listeria monocytogenes infection of mice. Consistent with other studies, Batf3 expression by CD8 T cells was dispensable for the primary response. However, Batf3−/− T cells underwent increased apoptosis during contraction to contribute to a substantially reduced memory population. Batf3−/− memory cells had an impaired ability to mount a robust recall response but remained functional. These findings reveal a cell-intrinsic role of Batf3 in regulating CD8 T cell memory development.
Footnotes
This work was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Award K12GM102778 (to Z.Q.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH Awards R01AI076457 (to B.S.S.) and R21AI137929 (to B.S.S.), and funds provided by The Research Foundation for the State University of New York and Stony Brook University (to B.S.S.).
The online version of this article contains supplemental material.
- Received March 10, 2020.
- Accepted June 24, 2020.
- Copyright © 2020 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.
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