Role for Inducible Costimulator in Control ofSalmonella entericaSerovar Typhimurium Infection in Mice

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Abstract
Inducible costimulator (ICOS) is expressed on activated T cells and plays a key role in sustaining and enhancing the effector function of CD4 T cells. Given the function of this molecule in sustaining T-cell responses, we reasoned that ICOS might play an important role in a prolonged infection model, such asSalmonellainfection of mice. To test this hypothesis, wild-type (WT) and ICOS-deficient (ICOS−/−) mice were infected systemically with aSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium strain expressing the chicken ovalbumin gene (Salmonella-OVA). ICOS−/−mice exhibited greater splenomegaly than WT mice and showed delayed bacterial clearance. The acquired immune response in this model was slow to develop. Maximal T-cell responses toSalmonella-OVA were detected at 3 weeks postinfection in both WT and ICOS−/−mice. CD4 T-cell-dependent gamma interferon production and a class switch to immunoglobulin G2a were severely reduced in ICOS−/−mice. ICOS−/−mice also exhibited a substantial defect in antigen-specific CD8 T-cell responses. In vitro, the effect of anti-ICOS on CD8 T-cell division was greater when CD8 T cells rather than CD4 T cells expressed ICOS, suggesting that the in vivo effects of ICOS on CD8 T cells could be direct. Taken together, these studies show that ICOS plays a critical role in control ofSalmonellainfection in mice, with effects on antibody, Th1, and CD8 T-cell responses.