Understanding memory CD8⁺ T cells

Memory CD8⁺ T cells were originally thought to exist as two populations (effector and central memory). In recent years, a third population called resident memory T cells has been discovered and further to this these populations are being divided into different subtypes. Understanding the function and developmental pathways of memory CD8⁺ T cells is key to developing effective therapies against cancer and infectious diseases. Here we have reviewed what is currently known about all three subsets of memory CD8⁺ T populations and as to how each population was originally discovered and the developmental pathways of each subpopulation. Each memory population appears to play a distinct role in adaptive immune responses but we are still a long way from understanding how the populations are generated and what roles they play in protection against invading pathogens and if they contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases.