title: Cytotoxic T-cell memory without antigen.
abstract: Memory is a hallmark of the immune system and ever since its recognition there has been considerable interest in understanding how immunity is maintained. The current model is that long-term memory is dependent on persistent antigenic stimulation. We report here results that challenge this view and provide evidence that antigen is not essential for the maintenance of CD8+ T-cell memory. We show that memory CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes persist indefinitely in the absence of priming antigen, retain the memory phenotype (CD44hi), and provide protection against virus challenge. These findings suggest a re-evaluation of our current thinking on mechanisms involved in maintaining immunity and have implications towards designing effective vaccination strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Somasundaram
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000276:immunology; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008954:Models, Biological; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing