Memory-Like CD8( ) T Cells Generated during Homeostatic Proliferation Defer to Antigen-Experienced Memory Cells

作者:Cheung Kitty P; Yang Edward; Goldrath Ananda W*
来源:The Journal of Immunology, 2009, 183(5): 3364-3372.
DOI:10.4049/jimmunol.0900641

摘要

Naive T cells proliferate in response to lymphopenia and acquire the phenotypic and functional qualities of memory T cells, providing enhanced protection against infection. How well memory-like T cells generated during lymphopenia-induced homeostatic proliferation (HP)-memory differentiate into secondary memory cells and compete with Ag-experienced true-memory cells is unknown. We found that CD8( ) HP-memory T cells generated robust responses upon infection and produced a secondary memory population comparable to true-memory cells in the absence of competition. However, when true-memory and HP-memory T cells competed during infection, HP-memory cells contributed less to the effector population, contracted earlier, and formed fewer secondary memory cells. Furthermore, HP- and true-memory cells demonstrated distinct chemokine receptor expression and localization within the spleen during infection, indicating differential access to signals necessary for secondary memory formation. Thus, HP-memory T cells provide protection without compromising the true-memory population. Differences in HP- and true-memory T cells may reveal the basis of competition for limited resources within the memory-T cell compartment. The Journal of Immunology, 2009, 183: 3364-3372.

  • 出版日期2009-9-1