Cutting Edge: Early IFN-γ Signaling Directly Enhances Primary Antiviral CD4+ T Cell Responses

Abstract

IFN-γ drives CD4+ T cell differentiation toward the Th1 phenotype (Th1) and suppresses Th2 development. Current evidence indicates that IFN-γ inhibits T cell proliferation and decreases T cell survival. In contrast to the above, we show here that antiviral CD4+ T cell generation after infection is reduced in the absence of IFN-γ signals. The deficient expansion of cells was not due to perturbations in T cell sensitivity to peptide or to altered migratory patterns through nonlymphoid tissues. Instead, IFN-γ enhanced early antiviral CD4 responses largely through direct signals into these cells. Our data challenge prevailing dogma and have implications for how the sizes of the CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses are established.