Qualitative Changes Accompany Memory T Cell Generation: Faster, More Effective Responses at Lower Doses of Antigen

The generation of memory T cells is critically important for rapid clearance and neutralization of pathogens encountered previously by the immune system. We have studied the kinetics of response and Ag dose requirements for proliferation and cytokine secretion of CD4+ memory T cells to examine wheth...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of immunology (1950) 2000-03, Vol.164 (5), p.2338-2346
Main Authors: Rogers, Paul R, Dubey, Caroline, Swain, Susan L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Antigens - immunology
Bone Marrow Transplantation - immunology
Cytochrome c Group - immunology
Cytokines - biosynthesis
Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic
Female
Immunologic Memory - genetics
Immunophenotyping
Interphase - immunology
Kinetics
Lymphocyte Activation - genetics
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Transgenic
Molecular Sequence Data
Peptides - immunology
Radiation Chimera
T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology
T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The generation of memory T cells is critically important for rapid clearance and neutralization of pathogens encountered previously by the immune system. We have studied the kinetics of response and Ag dose requirements for proliferation and cytokine secretion of CD4+ memory T cells to examine whether there are qualitative changes which might lead to improved immunity. TCR Tg CD4+ T cells were primed in vitro and transferred into T cell-deficient hosts. After 6 or more weeks, the persisting T cells were exclusively small resting cells with a memory phenotype: CD44high CD62L+/- CD25-. Memory CD4 T cells showed a similar pattern of response as naive cells to peptide analogues with similar Ag dose requirements for IL-2 secretion. However, memory cells (derived from both Th2 and Th1 effectors) displayed faster kinetics of cytokine secretion, cell division, and proliferation, enhanced proliferation in response to low doses of Ag or peptide analogues, and production of IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma. These results suggest there is a much more efficient response of CD4 memory T cells to Ag re-exposure and that the expanded functional capacity of memory cells will promote a rapid development of effector functions, providing more rapid and effective immunity.
ISSN:0022-1767
1550-6606
DOI:10.4049/jimmunol.164.5.2338