title: Divide, Conquer, and Sense: CD8+CD28-T Cells in Perspective.
abstract: Understanding the rationale for the generation of a pool of highly differentiated effector memory CD8+T cells displaying a weakened capacity to scrutinize for peptides complexed with major histocompatibility class I moleculesviatheir T cell receptor, lacking the "signal 2" CD28 receptor, and yet expressing a highly diverse array of innate receptors, from natural killer receptors, interleukin receptors, and damage-associated molecular pattern receptors, among others, is one of the most challenging issues in contemporary human immunology. The prevalence of these differentiated CD8+T cells, also known as CD8+CD28-, CD8+KIR+, NK-like CD8+T cells, or innate CD8+T cells, in non-lymphoid organs and tissues, in peripheral blood of healthy elderly, namely centenarians, but also in stressful and chronic inflammatory conditions suggests that they are not merely end-of-the-line dysfunctional cells. These experienced CD8+T cells are highly diverse and capable of sensing a variety of TCR-independent signals, which enables them to respond and fine-tune tissue homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal; Faculty of Health Sciences (FCS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernando A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Arosa
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior , Covilhã , Portugal.
authors.forename: André J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Esgalhado
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior , Covilhã , Portugal.
authors.forename: Carolina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Padrão
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal; Faculty of Health Sciences (FCS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Elsa M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Cardoso
keywords: IFN-γ; IL-15; NK-like T cells; effector memory CD8+ T cells; innate receptors; natural killer receptors; open MHC-I conformers; tissue repair