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Kuhlmann, M.* ; Kolland, D. ; de Almeida, G.P.* ; Hoffmann, C. ; von Hoesslin, M.* ; Berner, J.* ; Wurmser, C.* ; Akulich, A.* ; Schulz, A.M.* ; Hackstein, C.P.* ; Ohnmacht, C. ; Zehn, D.*

A bacterial microbiome is dispensable for the induction of CD8 T cellexhaustion.

Eur. J. Immunol. 56:e70238 (2026)
Verlagsversion Forschungsdaten DOI
Open Access Hybrid
Creative Commons Lizenzvertrag
Prolonged antigen exposure in chronic viral infections reduces the effector capacity of cytotoxic T cells-a phenomenon known as T cell exhaustion. Development of T cell exhaustion is driven by high viral titers, strong TCR stimulation, and high antigen concentrations associated with strong inflammatory signals. A largely unexplored factor has been the influence of the microbiome in these processes. Here, we report that T cell exhaustion progresses independently of the presence or absence of a microbiome in chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infections. Virus-specific CD8 T cells in germ-free mice showed high expression of the inhibitory receptor PD-1 and decreased cytokine production. Moreover, their global gene expression patterns, as determined by single-cell sequencing, were similar to those of cells in specific pathogen-free mice. In line with this, we observed similar pathogen loads with and without a microbiome. Thus, our study demonstrates that the microbiome is dispensable for the induction of T cell exhaustion and for the limited virus control seen in chronic LCMV infections.
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Publikationstyp Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Schlagwörter Chronic Infection ; Germ‐free Mice ; Microbiome ; T Cell Exhaustion ; T Cells; Commensal; Virus; Diversity; Defense; Mice
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0014-2980
e-ISSN 1521-4141
Zeitschrift European Journal of Immunology
Quellenangaben Band: 56, Heft: 8, Seiten: , Artikelnummer: e70238 Supplement: ,
Verlag Wiley
Verlagsort Hoboken
Begutachtungsstatus Peer reviewed
Institut(e) Institute of Allergy Research (IAF)
Förderungen European Research Council
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft