The goal of this study is to examine how ongoing acute and chronic infections and exposure to tumors affect naive bystander T cell populations. It is hypothesized that the environment a naive T cell is exposed to prior to T cell receptor specific activation will affect its ability to respond to antigen.
The specific aims are to analyze the status, kinetics, and stability of naive T cells during acute and chronic infections and to determine how chronic antigen exposure during persistent infections or persisting tumors has on the ability of bystander naive T cells to mount immune responses. In addition, to determine the effect of introducing therapeutic cytokines during a chronic infection or tumor model has on bystander naive T cells. Using a TCR transgenic model we will expose, by adoptive transfer, OVA TCR naive T cells to acute LCMV, chronic LCMV infection or Lewis Lung Carcinoma tumor transplant model. Recovered OVA naive cells will then be adoptively transferred into normal LCMV immune recipients to determine their ability to respond to OVA infection. This study will give clues in the development and timing of therapies and will lead to therapeutic developments for targeting naive T cell viability during chronic diseases and immune suppression.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32AI062002-02
Application #
7055290
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F07 (20))
Program Officer
Prograis, Lawrence J
Project Start
2005-04-01
Project End
2007-01-31
Budget Start
2006-04-01
Budget End
2007-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$40,663
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
066469933
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Premenko-Lanier, Mary; Moseley, Nelson B; Pruett, Sarah T et al. (2008) Transient FTY720 treatment promotes immune-mediated clearance of a chronic viral infection. Nature 454:894-8