Memory T cell

src: www.frontiersin.org

Memory T cells are a subset of infection- and cancer-fighting T cells (also known as a T lymphocyte) that have previously encountered and responded to their cognate antigen; thus, the term antigen-experienced T cell is often applied. Such T cells can recognize foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses, as well as cancer cells. Memory T cells have become "experienced" by having encountered antigen during a prior infection, encounter with cancer, or previous vaccination. At a second encounter with the invader, memory T cells can reproduce to mount a faster and stronger immune response than the first time in the immune system responded to the pathogen which is entered into the body. This behaviour is utilized in T lymphocyte proliferation assays, which can reveal exposure to specific antigens.

Video Memory T cell

Sub-populations

Historically, memory T cells were thought to belong to either the effector or central memory subtypes, each with their own distinguishing set of cell surface markers (see below). Subsequently, numerous additional populations of memory T cells were discovered including tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cells, stem memory TSCM cells, and virtual memory T cells. The single unifying theme for all memory T cell subtypes is that they are long-lived and can quickly expand to large numbers of effector T cells upon re-exposure to their cognate antigen. By this mechanism they provide the immune system with "memory" against previously encountered pathogens. Memory T cells may be either CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ and usually express CD45RO.

Memory T cell subtypes:

• Central memory T cells (T_CM cells)= express CD45RO, C-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CCR7), and L-selectin (CD62L). Central memory T cells also have intermediate to high expression of CD44. This memory subpopulation is commonly found in the lymph nodes and in the peripheral circulation. (Note- CD44 expression is usually used to distinguish murine naive from memory T cells).
• Effector memory T cells (T_EM cells and T_EMRA cells)= express CD45RO but lack expression of CCR7 and L-selectin. They also have intermediate to high expression of CD44. These memory T cells lack lymph node-homing receptors and are thus found in the peripheral circulation and tissues. T_EMRA stands for terminally differentiated effector memory cells re-expressing CD45RA, which is a marker usually found on naive T cells.
• Tissue resident memory T cells (T_RM)= occupy tissues (skin, lung, gastrointestinal tract, etc..) without recirculating. One cell surface marker that has been associated with T_RM is the integrin ?e?7. These cells are thought to play a major role in protective immunity against pathogens. Dysfunctional TRM cells have been implicated in autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease. Specific to TRMs are genes involved in lipid metabolism, being highly active, roughly 20- to 30-fold more active than in other types of T-cells.
• Virtual memory T cells= differ from the other memory subsets in that they do not originate following a strong clonal expansion event. Thus, although this population as a whole is abundant within the peripheral circulation, individual virtual memory T cell clones reside at relatively low frequencies. One theory is that homeostatic proliferation gives rise to this T cell population. Although CD8 virtual memory T cells were the first to be described, it is now known that CD4 virtual memory cells also exist. Some have suggested that antigen-inexperienced memory T cells should be separated into 'innate memory' T cells and 'virtual memory' T cells.

There have been numerous other subpopulations of memory T cells suggested. For example, in the mouse, Sendai virus specific CD8+ T-cells low on CD43 expression mounted a higher memory recall response suggesting that memory CD8 T-cells can also be distinguished from activated effector CD8 T-cells using CD43 marker. Other investigators have studied Stem memory T_SCM cells. Like naive T cells, T_SCM cells are CD45RO-, CCR7+, CD45RA+, CD62L+ (L-selectin), CD27+, CD28+ and IL-7R?+, but they also express large amounts of CD95, IL-2R?, CXCR3, and LFA-1, and show numerous functional attributes distinctive of memory cells.

Maps Memory T cell

Function

Antigen-specific memory T cells against viruses or other microbial molecules can be found in both T_CM and T_EM subsets. Although most information is currently based on observations in the cytotoxic T cells (CD8-positive) subset, similar populations appear to exist for both the helper T cells (CD4-positive) and the cytotoxic T cells.

• central memory (T_CM). The T_CM cells are thought to contain some properties associated with memory cells stem cells. T_CM display a capacity for self-renewal due to high levels of phosphorylation of an important transcription factor known as STAT5. In mice, T_CM cells have been shown to confer superior protection against viruses, bacteria, and cancer in several different model systems compared with T_EM cells.
• two highly related effector memory sub-types, which strongly express genes for molecules essential to the cytotoxic function of CD8 T cells:
  • effector memory (T_EM)
  • effector memory RA (T_EMRA)
• More recently, antigen-experienced CD8+ T cells with apparent self-renewal capabilities have been described in mice. This population, now termed stem cell memory (T_SCM), can be identified by the markers CD44(low)CD62L(high)CD122(high)sca-1(+) and are capable of generating T_CM and T_EM subsets while maintaining themselves. In preclinical studies, adoptively transferred T_SCM confer superior immunity compared with other T memory subsets. Whether such a population is found in humans is the subject of active investigation.

src: www.bloodjournal.org

See also

• Naive T cell
• V(D)J recombination of DNA
• Memory B cell

src: www.frontiersin.org

References

src: www.bloodjournal.org

Further reading

• Janeway, Charles (2005). Immunobiology: the immune system in health and disease. New York: Garland Science. ISBN 978-0-443-07310-6. 
• Lichtman, Andrew H.; Abbas, Abul K. (2003). Cellular and molecular immunology. Philadelphia: Saunders. ISBN 0-7216-0008-5. 

src: www.bloodjournal.org

External links

• T-cell Group - Cardiff University

Source of the article : Wikipedia