T cell intrinsic 4-1BB signals induce Prdm16 to increase effector and memory T cell numbers during respiratory influenza infection

TNFR superfamily members such as 4-1BB sustain T cell responses to control virus infections or tumors. However, the precise role of 4-1BB during an acute infection remains incompletely understood. Here we used mixed bone marrow chimeras and transcriptome analysis to show that intrinsic 4-1BB signaling in lung T cells during influenza A virus (IAV) infection induces the transcriptional coregulator PR domain containing 16 (Prdm16), known for its role in regulating mitochondrial biology in other cell types. T cell-specific deletion of Prdm16 reduced the number of Ag-specific CD8 T cells, with a larger effect on T cells in the lung parenchyma compared to the vasculature or lymphoid tissues. Conversely, Prdm16 overexpression in T cells increased effector and memory CD8 T cell accumulation during IAV infection. Single nuclei transcriptomics suggested that Prdm16 allows the accumulation of T cells with high protein translation and mitochondrial activity. Prdm16 increased genes associated with oxidative phosphorylation and mitophagy. Consistently, Prdm16 overexpressing cells had more compact mitochondrial cristae, which has been associated with more efficient electron transport. Prdm16 also repressed some genes, including Herpes virus entry mediator, which can inhibit T cell responses through B and T lymphocyte attenuator. These findings reveal a 4-1BB-Prdm16 axis that is induced in T cells during viral infection to support T cell accumulation and memory formation.