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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
09:17
A DNA/Ki67-Based Flow Cytometry Assay for Cell Cycle Analysis of Antigen-Specific CD8 T Cells in Vaccinated Mice
Published on: January 5, 2021
Sustained antigen-specific CD8+ T cell immunity post-mRNA booster requires notch pathway activation
Takuto Nogimori1, Yoshinori Okina1, Yuji Masuta1
1Laboratory of Precision Immunology, Center for Intractable Diseases and ImmunoGenomics, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health, and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan.
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|June 8, 2026
Summary
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines boost immunity, but CD8+ T cell responses fade. This study found Notch signaling may prolong these crucial T cell responses after a third mRNA vaccine dose.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are effective but antigen-specific CD8+ T cell persistence is limited.
- Understanding factors that maintain T cell responses is crucial for improving vaccine efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess CD8+ T cell responses after a third Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose.
- To identify factors contributing to the longevity of these antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells using HLA tetramers in 141 vaccinated individuals.
- Transcriptomic analysis to identify molecular pathways associated with T cell response strength.
- In vitro experiments to test the role of Notch signaling in CD8+ T cell expansion.
Main Results:
- Two groups of individuals were identified based on CD8+ T cell response strength 6 months post-vaccination.
- Notch signaling pathway was found to be upregulated in individuals with strong T cell responses.
- Inhibition of Notch signaling in vitro significantly reduced CD8+ T cell expansion.
Conclusions:
- Notch signaling may play a key role in maintaining long-term antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses after mRNA vaccination.
- Targeting the Notch signaling pathway presents a potential strategy for enhancing vaccine-induced cellular immunity and long-lasting protection.
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