Cellular and molecular mechanisms of memory T-cell survival.
Long-term maintenance of the memory T-cell response is the hallmark of immune protection and, hence, constitutes one of the most important objectives of vaccine-development strategies. Persistent memory T cells, developed after vaccination or microbial infections, ensure the generation of an antimicrobial response upon re-exposure to the pathogen through rapid clonal proliferation and activation of effector functions. However, in the context of many pathogen infections, these memory T cells fail to persist and die. In this review, we will highlight recent exciting findings in studies of memory T cells, their generation, their lineage relationships and their survival pathways; indeed, survival of memory T cells and maintenance of their functionality are key features of the immune response in its quest to control disease progression and in the development of vaccines to persistent microbial infections.
Tanel
Andre
A
Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CR-CHUM) Saint-Luc, 264 Rene Levesque Est, Montréal, Québec H2X 1P1, Canada. andre.tanel@umontreal.ca
Fonseca
Simone G
SG
Yassine-Diab
Bader
B
Bordi
Rebeka
R
Zeidan
Joumana
J
Shi
Yu
Y
Benne
Clarisse
C
Sékaly
Rafick-Pierre
RP
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors