Abstract
An understanding of how T cell memory is maintained is crucial for the rational design of vaccines. Memory T cells were shown to persist indefinitely in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-deficient mice and retained the ability to make rapid cytokine responses upon reencounter with antigen. In addition, memory CD8 T cells, unlike naïve cells, divided without MHC-T cell receptor interactions. This "homeostatic" proliferation is likely to be important in maintaining memory T cell numbers in the periphery. Thus, after naïve CD8 T cells differentiate into memory cells, they evolve an MHC class I-independent "life-style" and do not require further stimulation with specific or cross-reactive antigen for their maintenance.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Adoptive Transfer
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Animals
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Antigens, Viral / immunology
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Cell Division
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Epitopes / immunology
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology*
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Homeostasis
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Hyaluronan Receptors / analysis
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Immunologic Memory*
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Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
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Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / immunology
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Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / immunology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Transgenic
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Radiation Chimera
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
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beta 2-Microglobulin / genetics
Substances
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Antigens, Viral
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Epitopes
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
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Hyaluronan Receptors
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
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beta 2-Microglobulin
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Interferon-gamma