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Targeting T cell responses by selective chemokine receptor expression
Daniel J Campbell1, Gudrun F Debes, Brent Johnston
1Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305, USA. campbell@benaroyaresearch.org
Seminars in Immunology
|March 6, 2004
Summary
T cell migration is crucial for immune responses. Chemokine receptor expression dictates T cell homing to specific tissues, defining their function and tropism.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- T cell migration is essential for effective immune responses.
- Different T cell subsets, including CD4+, CD8+ alphabeta T cells, gammadelta T cells, and NK T cells, exhibit distinct migratory patterns.
- These patterns are critical for their programmed functions in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of chemokine receptors in directing T cell tropism.
- To understand how T cell homing to specific tissues is controlled.
- To link chemokine receptor expression to distinct T cell functions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of T cell populations and their migratory behavior.
- Investigation of chemokine receptor expression on various T cell subsets.
- Study of the molecular mechanisms controlling T cell homing, including chemotaxis and integrin activation.
Main Results:
- Conventional T cells are programmed for specific tissue migration post-activation.
- Innate-like T cells (gammadelta T cells, NK T cells) are pre-programmed for non-lymphoid tissue localization.
- Chemokine receptors, in conjunction with adhesion molecules, mediate T cell chemotaxis and integrin activation, controlling tissue-specific homing.
Conclusions:
- Chemokine receptor expression is a key determinant of T cell tropism for particular tissues and microenvironments.
- This tropism is intrinsically linked to the functional properties of distinct T cell subsets.
- Understanding T cell homing mechanisms is vital for modulating immune responses.