Abstract
B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is a negative regulator of T cell activation, but its function in vivo is not well characterized. Here we show that mice deficient in full-length BTLA or its ligand, herpesvirus entry mediator, had increased number of memory CD8+ T cells. The memory CD8+ T cell phenotype resulted from a T cell-intrinsic perturbation of the CD8+ T cell pool. Naive BTLA-deficient CD8+ T cells were more efficient than wild-type cells at generating memory in a competitive antigen-specific system. This effect was independent of the initial expansion of the responding antigen-specific T cell population. In addition, BTLA negatively regulated antigen-independent homeostatic expansion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. These results emphasize two central functions of BTLA in limiting T cell activity in vivo.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 162-171 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Nature immunology |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2007 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology