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Updated: May 4, 2026

Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood
Published on: November 21, 2014
Human memory T cells: generation, compartmentalization and homeostasis
Donna L Farber1, Naomi A Yudanin2, Nicholas P Restifo3
11] Columbia Center for Translational Immunology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, 650 West 168th Street, BB1501, New York, New York 10032, USA. [2] Department of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, 650 West 168th Street, BB1501, New York 10032, USA.
Abstract:
Memory T cells constitute the most abundant lymphocyte population in the body for the majority of a person's lifetime; however, our understanding of memory T cell generation, function and maintenance mainly derives from mouse studies, which cannot recapitulate the exposure to multiple pathogens that occurs over many decades in humans. In this Review, we discuss studies focused on human memory T cells that reveal key properties of these cells, including subset heterogeneity and diverse tissue residence in multiple mucosal and lymphoid tissue sites. We also review how the function and the adaptability of human memory T cells depend on spatial and temporal compartmentalization.
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