First lung infection permanently enlarges LN and enhances new T cell responses

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Presentation Time: 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Poster Board Number: B159
Abstract ID: 5961

Presenting Author:
Michael Stolley , Assistant Staff at Univ. of Minnesota Med. Sch., Lerner Res. Inst., Cleveland Clin.

Abstract:

Humans experience about four respiratory infections per year. Immunology and vaccinology studies in mice are typically performed in naïve specific pathogen free (SPF) animals responding to their very first respiratory challenge. We found that the first respiratory infection induces lifelong enlargement of lung-draining mediastinal LNs. Furthermore, infection-experienced medLNs supported better naïve T cell surveillance and effector responses to new unrelated infections and engendered more biased accumulation and memory establishment within the lung. Moreover, we observed that weight loss induced by influenza infection was substantially reduced in mice that had recovered from a previous unrelated respiratory viral challenge. These data show that the lack of infectious history in SPF mice alters their immune response to lung infections. Preclinical vaccination and immunology studies should consider the previous infectious experience of the model organism.