Defining T Cell Tissue Residency in Humans: Implications for HIV Pathogenesis and Vaccine Design

This review summarizes recent literature defining tissue-resident memory T cells (T_RM) and discusses implications for HIV pathogenesis, vaccines, and eradication efforts.

Investigations using animal models and human tissues have identified a T_RM transcriptional profile and elucidated signals within the tissue microenvironment leading to T_RM development and maintenance. T_RM are major contributors to host response in infectious diseases and cancer; in addition, T_RM contribute to pathogenic inflammation in a variety of settings. Although T_RM are daunting to study in HIV infection, recent work has helped define their molecular signatures and effector functions and tested strategies for their mobilization. Exclusive reliance on blood sampling to gain an understanding of host immunity overlooks the contribution of T_RM, which differ in significant ways from their counterparts in circulation. It is hoped that greater understanding of these cells will lead to novel approaches to prevent and/or eradicate HIV infection.