title: A major role for memory CD4 T cells in the control of lymphopenia-induced proliferation of naive CD4 T cells.
abstract: In a state of lymphopenia, naive and memory CD4 T cells compete with each other for expansion at the expense of naive T cells. This competition prevents the proliferation as well as the phenotypic and functional conversion of naive T cells to "memory-like" T cells and may consequently prevent immune pathology frequently associated with lymphopenia-induced proliferation of naive cells. However, in T cell replete mice, memory T cells do not compete with naive T cells, indicating independent homeostatic control of naive and memory CD4 T cells in conditions that do not involve profound lymphopenia. Moreover, within the memory compartment, subsequent generation of new memory T cells precludes the survival of memory-like T cells. Thus, memory T cells have a major role in the control of lymphopenia-induced proliferation of naive cells because they inhibit both the generation of memory-like T cells and their persistence within the memory compartment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Immunology, National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bourgeois
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kassiotis
authors.forename: Brigitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stockinger
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002999:Clone Cells; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000235:genetics; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*