Immunological memory is characterized by the ability to respond specifically and more rapidly upon a subsequent encounter with a pathogen or antigen. This rapid and specific memory response upon recall is the basis for vaccination. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate immune memory is critical for the rational design of vaccines. We have recently discovered that the intracellular molecule mTOR is a major regulator of memory CD8 T cell differentiation. In vivo administration of rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of mTOR, into mice infected with LCMV significantly enhanced both the quantity and the quality of the virus-specific memory CD8 T cell response. More importantly, we have shown that mTOR acts intrinsically in antigen-specific CD8 T cells to regulate memory differentiation. In this proposal we will investigate the following: 1) role of mTOR-dependent translational control in memory CD8 T cell differentiation;2) determine if autophagy regulates memory CD8 T cell differentiation;3) and investigate if we can harness the mTOR pathway to enhance memory CD8 T cell responses and anti-viral immunity after preventative and therapeutic vaccination. The experiments proposed in this grant should yield new insights into the mechanisms of memory differentiation and provide a framework for the rational design of vaccines that elicit long-term CD8 T cell protective immunity. )

Public Health Relevance

Memory CD8 T cells are an essential component of protective immunity, and generating effective memory CD8 T cell populations with large quantity and superior quality is a major goal of successful vaccines against chronic viral infections. We have found that mTORC1 regulates memory CD8 T cell development but the molecular mechanism remains unresolved. Uncovering the mechanism will not only give us a better understanding of memory T cell development but also for establishing a new and more specific molecular target for vaccine development.)

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI030048-21
Application #
8233297
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IDM-P (02))
Program Officer
Park, Eun-Chung
Project Start
1990-07-01
Project End
2016-02-29
Budget Start
2012-03-01
Budget End
2013-02-28
Support Year
21
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$480,100
Indirect Cost
$170,358
Name
Emory University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
066469933
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
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Lee, Junghwa; Hashimoto, Masao; Im, Se Jin et al. (2017) Adenovirus Serotype 5 Vaccination Results in Suboptimal CD4 T Helper 1 Responses in Mice. J Virol 91:
Ye, Lilin; Lee, Junghwa; Xu, Lifan et al. (2017) mTOR Promotes Antiviral Humoral Immunity by Differentially Regulating CD4 Helper T Cell and B Cell Responses. J Virol 91:
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Lee, Junghwa; Ahn, Eunseon; Kissick, Haydn T et al. (2015) Reinvigorating Exhausted T Cells by Blockade of the PD-1 Pathway. For Immunopathol Dis Therap 6:7-17

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