Cell Reports
Volume 32, Issue 9, 1 September 2020, 108085
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Article
CD49a Regulates Cutaneous Resident Memory CD8+ T Cell Persistence and Response

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108085Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • IL-12 or TGF-β can induce CD49a expression by CD8+ T cells

  • CD49a is not required for CD8+ T cell entry into or localization within the epidermis

  • CD49a promotes CD8+ TRM persistence within the epidermis

  • CD49a regulates TRM dendritic morphology and response to antigen challenge

Summary

CD8+ tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) persist at sites of previous infection, where they provide rapid local protection against pathogen challenge. CD8+ TRM expressing the α1 chain (CD49a) of integrin VLA-1 have been identified within sites of resolved skin infection and in vitiligo lesions. We demonstrate that CD49a is expressed early following T cell activation in vivo, and TGF-β and IL-12 induce CD49a expression by CD8+ T cells in vitro. Despite this rapid expression, CD49a is not required for the generation of a primary CD8+ T cell response to cutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, migration of CD8+ T cells across the epidermal basement membrane, or positioning of TRM within basal epidermis. Rather, CD49a supports CD8+ TRM persistence within skin, regulates epidermal CD8+ TRM dendritic extensions, and increases the frequency of IFN-γ+ CD8+ TRM following local antigen challenge. Our results suggest that CD49a promotes optimal cutaneous CD8+ TRM-mediated immunity.

Keywords

tissue-resident memory T cells
CD49a
cytokines
herpes simplex virus
CD8+ T cells
skin
IFN-g
morphology

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