title: Heterogeneity of the memory CD4 T cell response: persisting effectors and resting memory T cells.
abstract: Defining the cellular composition of the memory T cell pool has been complicated by an inability to distinguish effector and memory T cells. We present here an activation profile assay, using anti-CD3 and antigenic stimuli, that clearly distinguishes effector and memory CD4 T cells and defines subsets of long-lived memory CD4 T cells based on CD62 ligand (CD62L) expression. The CD62L(low) memory subset functionally resembles effector cells, exhibiting hyper-responsiveness to antigenic and anti-CD3 mediated stimuli, high proliferative capacity, and rapid activation kinetics. The CD62L(high) memory subset functionally resembles resting memory cells, exhibiting hyporesponsiveness to anti-CD3 stimuli, lower proliferative capacity, and slower activation kinetics. Our results indicate that the memory CD4 T cell pool is heterogeneous, consisting of persisting effectors and resting memory T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadzadeh
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Farber
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D002469:Cell Separation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007399:Interphase / Q000276:immunology; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D019041:L-Selectin