Molecular signatures distinguish human central memory from effector memory CD8 T cell subsets.
Memory T cells are heterogeneous in terms of their phenotype and functional properties. We investigated the molecular profiles of human CD8 naive central memory (T(CM)), effector memory (T(EM)), and effector memory RA (T(EMRA)) T cells using gene expression microarrays and phospho-protein-specific intracellular flow cytometry. We demonstrate that T(CM) have a gene expression and cytokine signaling signature that lies between that of naive and T(EM) or T(EMRA) cells, whereas T(EM) and T(EMRA) are closely related. Our data define the molecular basis for the different functional properties of central and effector memory subsets. We show that T(EM) and T(EMRA) cells strongly express genes with known importance in CD8 T cell effector function. In contrast, T(CM) are characterized by high basal and cytokine-induced STAT5 phosphorylation, reflecting their capacity for self-renewal. Altogether, our results distinguish T(CM) and T(EM)/T(EMRA) at the molecular level and are consistent with the concept that T(CM) represent memory stem cells.
Willinger
Tim
T
Medical Research Council Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford, United Kingdom. TimW@hammer.imm.ox.ac.uk
Freeman
Tom
T
Hasegawa
Hitoshi
H
McMichael
Andrew J
AJ
Callan
Margaret F C
MF
D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010766:Phosphorylation; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000235:genetics; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
D016328:NF-kappa B; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor