Preferential localization of effector memory cells in nonlymphoid tissue

D Masopust, V Vezys, AL Marzo, L Lefrançois - Science, 2001 - science.org
D Masopust, V Vezys, AL Marzo, L Lefrançois
Science, 2001science.org
Many intracellular pathogens infect a broad range of host tissues, but the importance of T
cells for immunity in these sites is unclear because most of our understanding of
antimicrobial T cell responses comes from analyses of lymphoid tissue. Here, we show that
in response to viral or bacterial infection, antigen-specific CD8 T cells migrated to
nonlymphoid tissues and were present as long-lived memory cells. Strikingly, CD8 memory
T cells isolated from nonlymphoid tissues exhibited effector levels of lytic activity directly ex …
Many intracellular pathogens infect a broad range of host tissues, but the importance of T cells for immunity in these sites is unclear because most of our understanding of antimicrobial T cell responses comes from analyses of lymphoid tissue. Here, we show that in response to viral or bacterial infection, antigen-specific CD8 T cells migrated to nonlymphoid tissues and were present as long-lived memory cells. Strikingly, CD8 memory T cells isolated from nonlymphoid tissues exhibited effector levels of lytic activity directly ex vivo, in contrast to their splenic counterparts. These results point to the existence of a population of extralymphoid effector memory T cells poised for immediate response to infection.
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