Control of homeostasis of CD8+ memory T cells by opposing cytokines.
Memory T cells maintain their numbers for long periods after antigen exposure. Here we show that CD8+ T cells of memory phenotype divide slowly in animals. This division requires interleukin-15 and is markedly increased by inhibition of interleukin-2 (IL-2). Therefore, the numbers of CD8+ memory T cells in animals are controlled by a balance between IL-15 and IL-2.
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Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
Murakami
M
M
Sakamoto
A
A
Kappler
J
J
Marrack
P
P
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D016923:Cell Death; D002455:Cell Division; D006706:Homeostasis; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
D000906:Antibodies; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; C508025:Il15ra protein, mouse; D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015851:Interleukin-7; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7