Antigen-specific CD8+ T cell feedback activates NLRP3 inflammasome in antigen-presenting cells through perforin

Nat Commun. 2017 May 24:8:15402. doi: 10.1038/ncomms15402.

Abstract

The connection between innate and adaptive immunity is best exemplified by antigen presentation. Although antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are required for antigen receptor-mediated T-cell activation, how T-cells feedback to APCs to sustain an antigen-specific immune response is not completely clear. Here we show that CD8+ T-cell (also called cytotoxic T lymphocytes, CTL) feedback activates the NLRP3 inflammasome in APCs in an antigen-dependent manner to promote IL-1β maturation. Perforin from antigen-specific CTLs is required for NLRP3 inflammasome activation in APCs. Furthermore, such activation of NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to the induction of antigen-specific antitumour immunity and pathogenesis of graft-versus-host diseases. Our study reveals a positive feedback loop between antigen-specific CTLs and APC to amplify adaptive immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes / immunology*
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1beta / immunology
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / genetics
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / immunology*
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Perforin / genetics
  • Perforin / immunology
  • Perforin / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • IL1B protein, mouse
  • Inflammasomes
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • NLRP3 protein, human
  • Nlrp3 protein, mouse
  • PRF1 protein, human
  • perforin 1, mouse
  • Perforin