Longitudinal analysis of the acute sendai virus-specific CD4 T cell response and memory

Abstract

The development and persistence of Sendai virus-specific CD4+ T cell memory has been analyzed following respiratory infection of C57BL/6J mice by determining the prevalence of IL-2-producing Th cell precursors (Thp). Frequencies as high as 1:40 virus-specific CD4+ T cells were found in the regional lymph nodes and spleen during the acute phase of the host response and persisted at levels ≥1:500 for 2 to 3 mo. Thereafter, these CD4+ T cells tended to distribute more to the spleen than to the lymph nodes, a pattern that persisted for the life of the animals. From 3 to 12 mo after infection, virus-specific Thp were always detectable, although the numbers were diminished relative to those measur..