Type-I IFN drives the differentiation of short-lived effector CD8 T cells in vivo

Abstract

Two subsets of CD8 + T cells are generated early during an immune response; one of these subsets forms the memory pool, known as memory precursor effector cells (MPECs), identified by high expression of CD127 and low expression of KLRG1, whereas the other subset forms short-lived effector cells (SLECs) identified by low expression of CD127 and high expression of KLRG1. Here, we studied in vivo the role of type-I IFN in this fate decision. We found that under priming conditions dominated by type-I IFN, as observed in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection, type-I IFN signaling directly impacted the regulation of T-bet and thus the early fate decision of CD8 + T cells. In the abse..