LFA-1 is required for retention of effector CD8 T cells in mouse lungs

The adhesion molecules involved in the migration and retention of activated effector CD8 T cells in the lung microcirculation and their recruitment into lung tissue are largely unknown. Here, we have analyzed the role of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) on adhesion of influenza hemagglutinin (HA)-specific CD8 T-cell clone D4 under shear conditions in an in vitro binding assay and in an in vivo homing assay to the lungs of naive or transgenic Balb/c mice expressing HA (HA-Tg) by a lung-specific promoter. Blocking LFA-1 or intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) significantly inhibited adhesion of D4 cells to lung vascular endothelium and parenchyma of lung sections. However, blocking VLA-4 or vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) had no effect on cell adhesion. Blocking LFA-1 in vivo significantly delayed lethal injury following adoptive transfer of D4 cells into HA-Tg mice as assessed by weight loss and histology. Residence time of adoptively transferred Indium 111 (111In)-labeled D4 cells in lungs of normal and HA-Tg mice as analyzed by dual modality imaging revealed a significantly shorter transit time of 4 hours for the D4 cells upon in vivo blockade of LFA-1. These results demonstrate a crucial role for LFA-1 in retention of activated CD8 T cells in normal mouse lungs and in the progression of lethal injury in HA-Tg mice.