title: CD4 memory T cells on trial: immunological memory without a memory T cell.
abstract: Immunological memory crucially depends on CD4 T cells. In contrast with B cells, we find no decisive evidence that CD4 T cells are permanently altered by antigen stimulation. We propose that the memory response is derived from an increase in frequency of resting naïve-like CD4 T cells with a half-life of years (or months in rodents), rather than the currently proposed specialized T-cell types that have a known lifespan of days. In addition, residual antigen will significantly influence the longevity of a memory response. Our model offers a new insight into immunological memory that could assist the development of CD4 T cell-based vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, Immunology Section, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. eric.bell@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Eric B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Westermann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D014612:Vaccines