# Balancing protective immunity and chronic sequelae by resident CD8 T cells

> **NIH NIH R01** · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · 2021 · $560,876

## Abstract

Summary/Abstract
Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) that park within the non-lymphoid tissue provide superior immunity
against a variety of pathogens including influenza virus infection. The mechanisms regulating CD8 TRM
maintenance, heterogeneity, protective and pathological functions are incompletely understood. Our recent
data have identified a novel protective CD8 TRM population that co-exhibits both exhausted and
conventional memory CD8 T cell features following acute influenza infection. Unlike the conventional
circulating memory CD8 T cells that are maintained in a MHC-I independent way, the survival and
maintenance of these PD-1hi TRM cells require persistent MHC-I and TCR signaling. Based on these prelim
data, we propose to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which these PD-1hi TRM are maintained in
the lung. We hypothesize the intrinsic CD28 and PD-1 signaling, specifically in lung-resident CD8 T cells,
balances the maintenance, protective function and fibrogenic activities of these PD-1hi TRM following influenza
virus infection (Aim 1). Furthermore, we will test the hypothesis that the expression of the transcription factor
Klf10 in CD8 T cells is vital for the maintenance and the function of these PD-1hi TRM (Aim 2). In addition, we
will determine whether it is possible to uncouple the pathogenic activities from the protective function of TRM, so
we may specifically provoke the protective function, but not the pathogenic activities of TRM for future vaccine
design and/or immunotherapies (Aim 3).
Relevance statement
Each year, influenza virus infects 5–10% of adults and 20–30% of children, killing as many as 500,000 people
globally. In addition to the acute morbidity and mortality, it is increasingly appreciated that influenza virus
infection could lead to the development of chronic lung conditions including pulmonary fibrotic responses.
Currently, little is known about the etiology of the development of chronic lung sequelae following influenza
virus infection. The successful completion of this study will provide insights for developing interventions to
promote the complete recovery of the tissue while minimizing the development of chronic lung conditions
following acute respiratory viral infections. Furthermore, understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms
regulating the maintenance of lung protective TRM responses following influenza infection and/or immunization
may aid the design of future influenza therapeutics and influenza vaccines.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10107749
- **Project number:** 5R01AI147394-02
- **Recipient organization:** MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Jie Sun
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $560,876
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-02-14 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10107749

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10107749, Balancing protective immunity and chronic sequelae by resident CD8 T cells (5R01AI147394-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10107749. Licensed CC0.

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