Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
10:16
Fabrication of Anisotropic Polymeric Artificial Antigen Presenting Cells for CD8+ T Cell Activation
Published on: October 12, 2018
CD8 T lymphocytes deploy embryonic cell cycle control mechanisms for rapid cell proliferation
David A Lewis1,2, Ananya Kar3, Alice Savage3
1Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, Edinburgh, UK.
EMBO Reports
|June 18, 2026
Summary
CD8 T cells rapidly divide during viral infections, using cell cycle control similar to embryonic stem cells. While sharing some mechanisms, they also possess unique strategies for fast cell cycling.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- CD8 T cells exhibit extremely rapid proliferation, essential for adaptive immunity during viral infections.
- Their cell cycle control mechanisms, crucial for this rapid division, are not well understood.
- Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) employ specialized cell cycle regulation for fast division.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if CD8 T cells utilize embryonic cell cycle mechanisms for rapid proliferation.
- To compare cell cycle protein expression in CD8 T cells, ESCs, and fibroblasts.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive measurement of protein abundances across cell cycle phases (G1, S, G2&M).
- Comparative proteomic analysis of murine CD8 T cells, mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), and fibroblasts.
Main Results:
- CD8 T cells and mESCs share significant similarities in cell cycle protein expression.
- Both cell types highly express Cyclin E1 and Emi1/Fbxo5 (also known as Embigin-like-1 or ELOVL5-binding protein 5) to facilitate entry into S-phase.
- Differences were observed in G2&M phase cell frequency, DNA replication factors, and APC/C substrate abundance between CD8 T cells and mESCs.
Conclusions:
- CD8 T cells employ a combination of shared and unique cell cycle control mechanisms to achieve rapid proliferation.
- Understanding these mechanisms provides insight into immune cell dynamics and potential therapeutic targets.
More Related Videos
09:17A DNA/Ki67-Based Flow Cytometry Assay for Cell Cycle Analysis of Antigen-Specific CD8 T Cells in Vaccinated Mice
Published on: January 5, 2021
10:49A Murine Cell Line Based Model of Chronic CDK9 Inhibition to Study Widespread Non-Genetic Transcriptional Elongation Defects (TEdeff) in Cancers
Published on: September 26, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:22T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
01:28The Cell Cycle Control System
The cell cycle regulation directs how a cell proceeds from one phase to the next and begins mitosis. The cell cycle control system includes intracellular regulatory molecules and external triggers. They provide "stop" or "advance" signals and operate at specific cell cycle stages termed checkpoints to ensure that a particular process is completed before the cell advances to the next phase.
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
02:11The Cell Cycle Control System
The cell cycle is an organized set of events that leads the cell to divide into two daughter cells, each containing chromosomes identical to the parent cell. It is the cell cycle that leads to the formation of an entire organism from a single-cell zygote. Besides, cell division also functions in the renewal or repair of tissues in adult multicellular eukaryotes. For example, in the bone marrow, the stem cells divide to form new blood cells. Although essential for several functions, cell...
02:36Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation
Cell size is a significant factor impacting cellular design, function, and fitness. There exists some internal coordination by which cells double their masses before division, thus, achieving homeostasis. Coordination between cell growth and proliferation depends on the checkpoints in between cell cycle phases. Loss of coordination or failure in the checkpoint mechanism can drive the cell to uncontrolled growth and loss of cellular function. Like dividing cells that coordinate cellular growth,...