CD8alphaalpha-mediated survival and differentiation of CD8 memory T cell precursors.

Madakamutil, Loui T; Christen, Urs; Lena, Christopher J; Wang-Zhu, Yiran; Attinger, Antoine; Sundarrajan, Monisha; Ellmeier, Wilfried; von Herrath, Matthias G et al. · Science · 2004

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Memory T cells are long-lived antigen-experienced T cells that are generally accepted to be direct descendants of proliferating primary effector cells. However, the factors that permit selective survival of these T cells are not well established. We show that homodimeric alpha chains of the CD8 molecule (CD8alphaalpha) are transiently induced on a selected subset of CD8alphabeta+ T cells upon antigenic stimulation. These CD8alphaalpha molecules promote the survival and differentiation of activated lymphocytes into memory CD8 T cells. Thus, memory precursors can be identified among primary effector cells and are selected for survival and differentiation by CD8alphaalpha.

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