Expression of chemokine receptors implicated in skin-homing on Herpesvirus-specific CD8+ T-cells (95.14)

Abstract HSV-2-specific CD8+ T-cells express high levels of cutaneous lymphocyte associated antigen (CLA) and the related E-selectin ligand (ESL). These mediate rolling adhesion to inflamed dermal endothelium. EBV- or CMV-specific CD8+ T-cells express low levels of CLA/ESL. Full arrest and diapedesis are mediated via the chemokine axis. Chemokine receptors implicated in skin homing include CCR4, CCR6, CCR8, CCR10, and CXCR3. We examined cell surface expression of these receptors on pathogen-specific, tetramer-positive CD8 T-cells and bulk CD4 and CD8 T-cells, using both cryopreserved and fresh PBMC. Our results confirm that amongst CD4+ cells, CLA+ cells selectively express CCR4 and CCR10, and extend these findings to bulk CD8+ cells. We did not, however, observe selective enrichment of CCR4 or CCR10 on HSV-2-specific CD8+ T-cells compared to bulk CD4+ or CD8+ T-cells. In contrast, we measured higher CXCR3 expression on HSV-2-specific CD8+ T-cells when compared to bulk CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, or EBV- or CMV-specific CD8+ T-cells. This suggests HSV-2-specific CD8+ T-cells may utilize CXCR3 expression to home to infected skin lesions. Support from: NIH Grant AI30731 and STD/AIDS Research Training Grant 5T32AI007140