Tissue-resident memory T cells trigger rapid exudation and local antibody accumulation

Adaptive immunity is didactically partitioned into humoral and cell-mediated effector mechanisms, which may imply that each arm is separate and does not function together. Here, we report that the activation of CD8+ resident memory T cells (T(RM)) in nonlymphoid tissues triggers vascular permeability, which facilitates rapid distribution of serum antibodies into local tissues. T(RM) reactivation was associated with transcriptional upregulation of antiviral signaling pathways as well as Fc receptors and components of the complement cascade. Effects were local, but evidence is presented that T(RM) in brain and reproductive mucosa are both competent to induce rapid antibody exudation. T(RM) reactivation in the mouse female genital tract increased local concentrations of virus-specific neutralizing antibodies, including anti-vesicular stomatitis virus, and passively transferred anti-HIV antibodies. We showed that this response was sufficient to increase the efficacy of ex vivo vesicular stomatitis virus neutralization. These results indicate that CD8+ T(RM) antigen recognition can enhance local humoral immunity.