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Non-cytotoxic functions of CD8 T cells: "repentance of a serial killer"

Mouhamad Al Moussawy1,2, Hossam A Abdelsamed1,2,3

  • 1Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.

Frontiers in Immunology
|September 29, 2022
PubMed

Cytotoxic CD8 T cells (CTLs) are classically described as the "serial killers" of the immune system, where they play a pivotal role in protective immunity against a wide spectrum of pathogens and tumors. Ironically, they are critical drivers of transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases, a scenario very similar to the famous novel "The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". Until recently, it has not been well-appreciated whether CTLs can also acquire non-cytotoxic functions in health and disease. Several investigations into this question revealed their non-cytotoxic functions through interactions with various immune and non-immune cells. In this review, we will establish a new classification for CD8 T cell functions including cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic. Further, we will discuss this novel concept and speculate on how these functions could contribute to homeostasis of the immune system as well as immunological responses in transplantation, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.

Keywords:
CD8 T cells (CTLs)cross-talkdirect-indirect-non-cytotoxic

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