Behavior of Parasite-Specific Effector CD8+ T Cells in the Brain and Visualization of a Kinesis-Associated System of Reticular Fibers

SummaryTo understand lymphocyte behavior in the brain, we used two-photon microscopy to visualize effector CD8+ T cells during toxoplasmic encephalitis. These cells displayed multiple behaviors with two distinct populations of cells apparent: one with a constrained pattern of migration and one with a highly migratory subset. The proportion of these populations varied over time associated with changes in antigen availability as well as T cell expression of the inhibitory receptor PD1. Unexpectedly, the movement of infiltrating cells was closely associated with an infection-induced reticular system of fibers. This observation suggests that, whereas in other tissues pre-existing scaffolds exist that guide lymphocyte migration, in the brain specialized structures are induced by inflammation that guide migration of T cells in this immune-privileged environment.