Are CD8+ CD122+ cells regulatory T cells or memory T cells?

• Published in: Human immunology Vol. 69; no. 11; pp. 751 - 754
• Main Authors: Suzuki, Haruhiko, Shi, Zhe, Okuno, Yusuke, Isobe, Ken-ichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2008
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; Animals; Antigens, CD - immunology; CD122; CD8; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CXCR3; Humans; Immunologic Memory - physiology; Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit - immunology; Memory T cells; Mice; Receptors, CCR7 - immunology; Receptors, CXCR3 - immunology; Regulatory T cells; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - cytology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; Memory T cells; Regulatory T cells; CD8; CXCR3; CD122
• ISSN: 0198-8859; 1879-1166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2008.08.285

Abstract We identified CD8+ CD122+ regulatory T cells in the mouse. Some immunologists consider CD8+ CD122+ cells to be memory T cells despite our report of their regulatory function. Here, we propose a dual phenotype of these cells. Murine CD8+ CD122+ T cells demonstrate both memory and regulatory features in their functional profiles. Human CD8+ CXCR3+ T cells, which are thought to be the human counterpart of murine CD8+ CD122+ regulatory T cells, do not match human central memory T cells of the CD8+ CD45RA− CCR7+ phenotype. Thus, we must consider human CD8+ regulatory T cells and murine CD8+ regulatory T cells separately. Of human CD8+ regulatory T cells, CD8+ CXCR3+ regulatory T cells can be divided into further subsets and we may be able to distinguish memory T cells and regulatory T cells. Of murine CD8+ CD122+ regulatory T cells, it seems to be impossible to divide CD8+ CD122+ CD44+ CD62L+ regulatory T cells into further subsets at present, indicating that this single population of cells has activities of both regulatory T cells and memory T cells.