CD154 and IL-2 signaling of CD4+ T cells play a critical role in multiple phases of CD8+ CTL responses following adenovirus vaccination.

Adenoviral (AdV) vectors represent most commonly utilized viral vaccines in clinical studies. While the role of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in mediating AdV-induced protection is well understood, the involvement of CD4+ T cell-provided signals in the development of functional CD8+ CTL responses remain unclear. To explore CD4+ T helper signals required for AdVova-stimulated CTL responses, we established an adoptive transfer system by transferring CD4+ T cells derived from various knock out and transgenic mice into wild-type and/or CD4-deficient animals, followed by immunizing with recombinant ovalbumin (OVA)-expressing AdVova vector. Without CD4+ T help, both primary and memory CTL responses were greatly reduced in this model, and were associated with increased PD-1 expression. The provision of OVA-specific CD4+ T help in CD4+ T cell-deficient mice restored AdVova-induced primary CTL responses, and supported survival and recall responses of AdVova-stimulated memory CTLs. These effects were specifically mediated by CD4+ T cell-produced IL-2 and CD154 signals. Adoptive transfer of “helped” or “unhelped” effector and memory CTLs into naive CD4+ T cell-deficient or -sufficient mice also revealed an additional role for polyclonal CD4+ T cell environment in the survival of AdVova-stimulated CTLs, partially explaining the extension of CTL contraction phase. Finally, during recall responses, CD4+ T cell environment, particularly involving memory CD4+ T cells, greatly enhanced expansion of memory CTLs. Collectively, our data strongly suggest a critical role for CD4+ T help in multiple phases of AdV-stimulated CTL responses, and could partially explain certain failures in AdV-based immunization trials targeting malignant tumors and chronic diseases that are often associated with compromised CD4+ T cell population and function.