Effector lymphoid tissue and its crucial role in protective immunity.
It is often argued that T cell-mediated immunity to secondary infection is dependent on the 'accelerated' responses of memory T cells in lymph nodes. However, new evidence points to a crucial role for effector memory T cells, which are resident in peripheral tissues, in immune protection. These T cells, which reside in peripheral tissues, are not necessarily bound by an anatomical structure and can be present at many sites. Collectively, they represent a third functional tissue of the immune system, uniquely specialized to mediate protective immunity. We propose that the paradigm 'effector lymphoid tissue' needs to be articulated and developed as a focus of new research to describe and understand the unique role this tissue has in protective immunity.
van Panhuys
Nicholas
N
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, PO Box 7060, Wellington, New Zealand.
Perret
Rachel
R
Prout
Melanie
M
Ronchese
Franca
F
Le Gros
Graham
G
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens