Naive brain harbors resident memory T cells that respond to neurological insults prior to infiltration of antigen specific T cells

Abstract

Abstract Brain resident memory T cells (TRM) have recently been phenotypically characterized. However, the function of these cells in the brain, and their changes during neurological insults, is not well understood. Using the described phenotype of brain TRMs (TCRB+, CD69+, CD4 or CD8+, CD103−, CD44+), we evaluated cellular responses of this population in the naïve brain and upon various neurological insults. We found that numbers of brain TRMs increased as a function of age. Additionally, TRM cells in the naïve brain produce TNFα constitutively, setting them apart from TRMs in other organs. Parabiosis studies revealed that circulating pools of memory T cells contributes to maintenance of TRM cells in the naïve brain. During neurological injury, we observed an increase in numbers of TRMs as early as 24 hours following physical insult induced by intracranial injection of PBS. During brain infection with Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis virus, brain TRMs increased in number prior to detection of any virus-specific CD8 T cells. This implies TRMs respond to CNS viral infections prior to generation of virus antigen specific responses. This response is due to proliferation of TRM cells in the brain, as treatment with FTY720 did not inhibit TRM proliferation 24 hours post infection. In short, naïve brains harbor populations of TNFα producing TRM cells. And TRMs rapidly respond to neurological injuries through proliferation in an antigen independent manner. Understanding brain TRMs is crucial in investigating their role in neurodegenerative disorders or targeting this potent population of brain resident T cells in cancers of the CNS.