Integrin function in T-cell homing to lymphoid and nonlymphoid sites: getting there and staying there

• Published in: Critical reviews in immunology Vol. 29; no. 2; p. 87
• Main Authors: Denucci, Christopher C, Mitchell, Jason S, Shimizu, Yoji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2009
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Adhesion - immunology; Cell Movement - immunology; Cytokines - immunology; Cytokines - metabolism; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - metabolism; Humans; Immunological Synapses - immunology; Immunological Synapses - metabolism; Integrins - immunology; Integrins - metabolism; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - immunology; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - metabolism; Lymph Nodes - immunology; Lymph Nodes - metabolism; Lymphocyte Activation - immunology; Receptors, Chemokine - immunology; Receptors, Chemokine - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - immunology; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - metabolism
• ISSN: 1040-8401
• DOI: 10.1615/CritRevImmunol.v29.i2.10

The continuous recirculation of naive T cells and their subsequent migration to tissue following activation is crucial for maintaining protective immunity against invading pathogens. The preferential targeting of effector and memory T cells to tissue is instructed during priming and mediated by cell surface expressed adhesion receptors such as integrins. Integrins arc involved in nearly all aspects of T-cell life, including naive T-cell circulation, activation, and finally effector T-cell trafficking and localization. Recent research has revealed that microenvironmental factors present during T-cell priming result in the specific regulation of adhesion/integrin and chemokine receptor expression. Once antigen-experienced T cells enter tissue, further changes in integrin expression may occur that arc critical for T-cell localization, retention, effector function, and survival. This review discusses the function of integrin expression on T cells and the multiple roles integrins play on naive T cells and in directing effector T-cell trafficking to nonlymphoid sites in order to maintain protective adaptive immunity at body barriers.