Protective immunity towards intracellular pathogens.
Immunity towards intracellular pathogens is often dependent upon the generation of CD8(+) memory T cells, which provide long-lasting and effective protection. Over the past few years, we have gained novel insights into the heterogeneity of CD8(+) T cells, time points of lineage commitment, and lineage relationships between subpopulations. These studies suggest that memory CD8(+) T cells progressively develop from naïve cells early during the immune response and further differentiate unidirectionally into short-living effector cells. We have also learnt that different memory subsets play distinct roles in conferring protection: whereas effector memory T cells are able to provide immediate protection but are not necessarily maintained long-term, central memory T cells have the potential for constant self-renewal. Thus, neither subset really fulfills all criteria of memory. As protective effector memory cells can develop from central memory cells, vaccination strategies should focus on induction of a balanced ratio of the two memory T cell subsets.
Huster
Katharina M
KM
Clinical Cooperation Group, Antigen Specific Immunotherapy, GSF, Institute of Health and Environment and Technical University of Munich, Germany.
Stemberger
Christian
C
Busch
Dirk H
DH
D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology