A high-mobility, low-cost phenotype defines human effector-memory CD8+ T cells

Blood. 2009 Jan 1;113(1):95-9. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-04-153262. Epub 2008 Oct 9.

Abstract

T cells move randomly ("random-walk"), a characteristic thought to be integral to their function. Using migration assays and time-lapse microscopy, we found that CD8+ T cells lacking the lymph node homing receptors CCR7 and CD62L migrate more efficiently in transwell assays, and that these same cells are characterized by a high frequency of cells exhibiting random crawling activity under culture conditions mimicking the interstitial/extravascular milieu, but not when examined on endothelial cells. To assess the energy efficiency of cells crawling at a high frequency, we measured mRNA expression of genes key to mitochondrial energy metabolism (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1beta [PGC-1beta], estrogen-related receptor alpha [ERRalpha], cytochrome C, ATP synthase, and the uncoupling proteins [UCPs] UCP-2 and -3), quantified ATP contents, and performed calorimetric analyses. Together these assays indicated a high energy efficiency of the high crawling frequency CD8+ T-cell population, and identified differentially regulated heat production among nonlymphoid versus lymphoid homing CD8+ T cells.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Calorimetry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Movement / immunology*
  • Cytochromes c / genetics
  • Energy Metabolism / immunology*
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics
  • Flow Cytometry / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory / immunology*
  • Immunophenotyping / methods*
  • Ion Channels / genetics
  • L-Selectin / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Receptors, CCR7 / metabolism
  • Uncoupling Protein 2
  • Uncoupling Protein 3

Substances

  • CCR7 protein, human
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Ion Channels
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • PPARGC1B protein, human
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Receptors, CCR7
  • UCP2 protein, human
  • Uncoupling Protein 2
  • Uncoupling Protein 3
  • L-Selectin
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Cytochromes c
  • Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases