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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

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.
Abstract:
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines effectively induce protective immunity, but antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses exhibit limited persistence. In this study, we aimed to assess CD8+ T cell responses following a third dose of the Pfizer BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine and identify factors contributing to their longevity. Using HLA tetramers, we analyzed antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in 141 vaccinated individuals (86.5% female) and identified 2 groups: those with strong responses (strong group) and those with weak responses (weak group) 6 mo after the third mRNA vaccination. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that Notch signaling was upregulated in the strong group, and in vitro, the inhibition of Notch signaling significantly reduced CD8+ T cell expansion. These findings suggest that Notch signaling may contribute to maintain long-term antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses following mRNA vaccination. Targeting this pathway could offer novel strategies for enhancing vaccine-induced cellular immunity and long-lasting protection.
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