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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Isolation and Th17 Differentiation of Naïve CD4 T Lymphocytes
Published on: September 27, 2013
Dominance of memory over naive T cells in contact dermatitis is due to differential tissue immigration
CD4+ T cells include a naive (CD4-, CD45RO-, CD29-, CD45RA+) as well as a memory subpopulation (CD4+, CD45RO+, CD29+, CD45RA-). These subpopulations represent different stages in T-cell development and function. Recently, it has been shown that inflammatory and neoplastic CD4+ T-cell infiltrates are dominated by the memory subpopulation, whereas both subpopulations are about the same size in the peripheral blood. This was thought to be the result of in situ maturation of naive into memory T cells. We analysed early positive patch-test reactions 1-2 days after antigen challenge and found that most of the CD4+ T cells that had freshly immigrated into the tissue carried the memory phenotype. Their preferential migration may be mediated by at least five adhesion molecules expressed on their cell surface. This observation has important pathogenetic implications, since memory T cells can be rapidly activated by antigens and secrete a wide variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
CD4+ T cells include a naive (CD4-, CD45RO-, CD29-, CD45RA+) as well as a memory subpopulation (CD4+, CD45RO+, CD29+, CD45RA-). These subpopulations represent different stages in T-cell development and function. Recently, it has been shown that inflammatory and neoplastic CD4+ T-cell infiltrates are dominated by the memory subpopulation, whereas both subpopulations are about the same size in the peripheral blood. This was thought to be the result of in situ maturation of naive into memory T cells. We analysed early positive patch-test reactions 1-2 days after antigen challenge and found that most of the CD4+ T cells that had freshly immigrated into the tissue carried the memory phenotype. Their preferential migration may be mediated by at least five adhesion molecules expressed on their cell surface. This observation has important pathogenetic implications, since memory T cells can be rapidly activated by antigens and secrete a wide variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
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