Persistence of memory CD8 T cells in MHC class I-deficient mice.
An understanding of how T cell memory is maintained is crucial for the rational design of vaccines. Memory T cells were shown to persist indefinitely in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-deficient mice and retained the ability to make rapid cytokine responses upon reencounter with antigen. In addition, memory CD8 T cells, unlike naïve cells, divided without MHC-T cell receptor interactions. This "homeostatic" proliferation is likely to be important in maintaining memory T cell numbers in the periphery. Thus, after naïve CD8 T cells differentiate into memory cells, they evolve an MHC class I-independent "life-style" and do not require further stimulation with specific or cross-reactive antigen for their maintenance.
Murali-Krishna
K
K
Emory Vaccine Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Lau
L L
LL
Sambhara
S
S
Lemonnier
F
F
Altman
J
J
Ahmed
R
R
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000276:immunology; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011828:Radiation Chimera; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000235:genetics
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D007371:Interferon-gamma