Immunoproteasomes are essential for clearance of Listeria monocytogenes in nonlymphoid tissues but not for induction of bacteria-specific CD8+ T cells

Microbial infections induce the replacement of constitutive proteasomes by immunoproteasomes (I-proteasomes). I-proteasomes support efficient generation of MHC class I epitopes and influence immunodominance hierarchies of CD8(+) T cells. Recently, the function of I-proteasomes in antimicrobial responses was challenged by showing that the lack of I-proteasomes has no effect on induction and function of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-specific CD8(+) T cells.

Here, we show that infection with Listeria monocytogenes rapidly induces I-proteasomes in nonlymphoid tissues, which leads to enhanced generation of protection relevant CD8(+) T cell epitopes. I-proteasome-deficient mice (beta5i(-/-) mice) exhibited normal frequencies of L. monocytogenes-specific CD8(+) T cells.

However, clearance of L. monocytogenes in liver but not spleen was significantly impaired in I-proteasome-deficient mice. In summary, our studies demonstrate that induction of I-proteasomes is required for CD8(+) T cell-mediated elimination of L. monocytogenes from nonlymphoid but not lymphoid tissues.