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Primer: making sense of T-cell memory

Nature Clinical Practice Rheumatology volume 4, pages 43–49 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Protective memory is a key property of the immune system. Pathogen-associated molecular patterns of invading organisms deliver signals to pattern-recognition receptors that activate the innate immune system. Ligation of the T-cell receptor by peptides bound to MHC antigens and presented by dendritic cells, together with signals produced by the activated innate immune system, initiate T-cell responses. The nature of the T-cell response, consisting of phases of clonal expansion and contraction, and differentiation to effector and memory cells, however, is determined both by the properties of the antigen and the co-stimuli produced by the innate immune system. Short-lived effector and longer-lived memory T cells are generated during primary responses; after the death of most of the effectors, memory cells remain. Memory cells are heterogeneous in phenotype and function; subsets include the relatively quiescent central and more activated effector memory cells, as well as cells able to promote inflammation, help antibody production or regulate other immune responses. Understanding the properties of memory cells will help in the rational design of vaccines for 'difficult' organisms or cancer, as well as immunotherapies for autoimmune diseases.

Key Points

  • T-cell memory consists of expanded clones of cells that differ in phenotype from naive T cells and turn over more rapidly

  • Pathogens deliver signals to the innate immune system, which influence the nature of developing memory cells early in an immune response

  • The magnitude of a memory population is determined by the nature, dose and persistence of the antigen

  • Memory cells compete for survival, and antigen or cross-reacting antigen provides a survival advantage

  • Memory cells are heterogeneous in kinetics, homing and function; their function can be modulated by their microenvironment

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Figure 1: Kinetics of T-cell responses.
Figure 2: Programming of mouse helper T-cell subsets.

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Acknowledgements

PCL Beverley is supported by a fellowship from the Jenner Foundation.

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Author notes

  1. The Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, Compton, Berkshire RG20 7NN, UK peter.beverley@jenner.ac.uk

Authors and Affiliations

  1. PCL Beverley is a Principal Research Fellow of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Oxford University, but is based at the Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, Compton, Berkshire, UK.,

    Peter CL Beverley

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  1. Peter CL Beverley
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Beverley, P. Primer: making sense of T-cell memory. Nat Rev Rheumatol 4, 43–49 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncprheum0671

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