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In Vitro Resident Memory CD8 T Cell Differentiation Using Epithelial Organoid-T Cell Co-culture System
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Virtual memory CD8 T cells display unique functional properties

June-Yong Lee1, Sara E Hamilton, Adovi D Akue

  • 1Center for Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|July 31, 2013
PubMed

Previous studies revealed the existence of foreign antigen-specific memory phenotype CD8 T cells in unimmunized mice. Considerable evidence suggests this population, termed "virtual memory" (VM) CD8 T cells, arise via physiological homeostatic mechanisms. However, the antigen-specific function of VM cells is poorly characterized, and hence their potential contribution to immune responses against pathogens is unclear. Here we show that naturally occurring, polyclonal VM cells have unique functional properties, distinct from either naïve or antigen-primed memory CD8 T cells. In striking contrast to conventional memory cells, VM cells showed poor T cell receptor-induced IFN-γ synthesis and preferentially differentiated into central memory phenotype cells after priming. Importantly, VM cells showed efficient control of Listeria monocytogenes infection, indicating memory-like capacity to eliminate certain pathogens. These data suggest naturally arising VM cells display unique functional traits, allowing them to form a bridge between the innate and adaptive phase of a response to pathogens.

Keywords:
homeostasislymphocyte

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