Adoptive transfer of Tc17 CD8 T cells as an approach to elicit a better immune response to vaccination

Adoptive Transfer of Tc17 CD8 T Cells as an Approach to Elicit a Better Immune Response to Vaccination

Hung-Rong Yen1,2_{, Ching-Tai Huang}3_{, Tzou-Yien Lin}4_{, Drew M Pardoll}1_{, Charles G}

Drake1_.

1_{Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,}

Baltimore, MD, United States, 21231; 2_{Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine,} 3_{Department of Internal Medicine,} 4_{Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial}

Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, 333.

CD8 T cells that produce IL-17 is an unknown field with lots to explore. In our previous studies, we found a novel subset of IL-17 producing CD8 T cells persisted longer in a self-antigen autoimmune model versus conventional IFN-g producing Tc1 cells; furthermore, Tc17 can convert to an IFN-g producing phenotype in vivo. In the present study, we adoptively transferred a relatively small numbers (100,000) of IL-17 secreting TCR-transgenic antigen-specific CD8 T cells one day before vaccination with recombinant vaccinia virus encoded with full-length hemagglutinin. Tc 17 cells activated, expanded better than Tc1 cells 9 days after vaccination (Mean = 7.425x106 _{versus 1.350x10}6_{, p<0.05). Interestingly, Tc17 can convert to an IFN-g}

producing phenotype after vaccination. Our preliminary data fit the niche that is required to improve vaccination and immunotherapy and we suggest that, to treat infectious disease, CD8 Tc17 could be a promising effector T cell subset to achieve the goal. Additional mechanisms are being explored.

HRY is the recipient of a Career Developing Grant from the National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan (NHRI-EX101-10124SC). CGD is a Damon Runyon-Lilly Clinical Investigator. This work was also supported by National Institutes of Health R01 CA127153 (CGD), K08 CA096948 (CGD), and the Patrick C. Walsh Fund. DMP is a Januey Scholar, holds the Seraph Chair for Cancer Research, and is supported in part by gifts from William and Betty Toperer, Dorothy Needle, and the Commonwealth Foundation.