IL-15-dependent induction of 4-1BB promotes antigen-independent CD8 memory T cell survival

Mice lacking CD137L (4-1BBL) show normal primary expansion and contraction of the CD8(+) T cell response to influenza virus, but exhibit a defect in Ag-specific CD8(+) T cell numbers at 3-6 wk postinfection. Previous results showed that the decrease in CD8(+) T cell numbers in this model is not due to a programming defect during primary expansion. Thus, it appears that 4-1BB/4-1BBL interactions control the number of surviving CD8(+) effector memory cells, late in the primary response. In this report, we asked how 4-1BB on T cells could play a role after Ag has apparently been cleared from the host. We show that IL-15, a cytokine involved in regulation of CD8(+) memory T cell survival, induces the expression of 4-1BB on CD8(+)CD44(high) memory phenotype T cells, but not on CD4(+) T cells. The Ag-independent induction of 4-1BB by IL-15 was dependent on MAPK p38 and ERK activation. Transfer of in vitro-generated OT-I CD8(+) memory T cells into unimmunized wild-type or 4-1BBL-deficient hosts revealed a 2- to 3-fold survival advantage when 4-1BBL was present, recapitulating the effect seen in the endogenous response to influenza in mice. Decreases in the overall number of memory CD8(+) T cells were also observed in the bone marrow of unmanipulated 4-1BBL-deficient mice. These data suggest a model whereby 4-1BB expression on memory CD8(+) T cells, perhaps due to encounter with IL-15 in the bone marrow, allows 4-1BB/4-1BBL interactions to maintain memory CD8 T cell survival in the absence of Ag.