@article {Lazarevic2910, author = {Lazarevic, Vanja and Yankura, David J. and Divito, Sherrie J. and Flynn, JoAnne L.}, title = {Induction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Specific Primary and Secondary T-Cell Responses in Interleukin-15-Deficient Mice}, volume = {73}, number = {5}, pages = {2910--2922}, year = {2005}, doi = {10.1128/IAI.73.5.2910-2922.2005}, publisher = {American Society for Microbiology Journals}, abstract = {Several studies have provided evidence that interleukin-15 (IL-15) can enhance protective immune responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. However, the effects of IL-15 deficiency on the functionality of M. tuberculosis-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells are unknown. In this study, we investigated the generation and maintenance of effector and memory T-cell responses following M. tuberculosis infection of IL-15-/- mice. IL-15-/- mice had slightly higher bacterial numbers during chronic infection, which were accompanied by an increase in gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-producing CD4 and CD8 T cells. There was no evidence of increased apoptosis or a defect in proliferation of CD8 effector T cells following M. tuberculosis infection. The induction of cytotoxic and IFN-γ CD8 T-cell responses was normal in the absence of IL-15 signaling. The infiltration of CD4 and CD8 T cells into the lungs of {\textquotedblleft}immune{\textquotedblright} IL-15-/- mice was delayed in response to M. tuberculosis challenge. These findings demonstrate that efficient effector CD4 and CD8 T cells can be developed following M. tuberculosis infection in the absence of IL-15 but that recall T-cell responses may be impaired.}, issn = {0019-9567}, URL = {https://iai.asm.org/content/73/5/2910}, eprint = {https://iai.asm.org/content/73/5/2910.full.pdf}, journal = {Infection and Immunity} }