Memory CD 8 T cell inflation vs tissue‐resident memory T cells: Same patrollers, same controllers?

• Published in: Immunological reviews Vol. 283; no. 1; pp. 161 - 175
• Main Authors: Welten, Suzanne P. M., Sandu, Ioana, Baumann, Nicolas S., Oxenius, Annette
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2018
• ISSN: 0105-2896; 1600-065X
• DOI: 10.1111/imr.12649

Summary The induction of long‐lived populations of memory T cells residing in peripheral tissues is of considerable interest for T cell‐based vaccines, as they can execute immediate effector functions and thus provide protection in case of pathogen encounter at mucosal and barrier sites. Cytomegalovirus ( CMV )‐based vaccines support the induction and accumulation of a large population of effector memory CD 8 T cells in peripheral tissues, in a process called memory inflation. Tissue‐resident memory (T RM ) T cells, induced by various infections and vaccination regimens, constitute another subset of memory cells that take long‐term residence in peripheral tissues. Both memory T cell subsets have evoked substantial interest in exploitation for vaccine purposes. However, a direct comparison between these two peripheral tissue‐localizing memory T cell subsets with respect to their short‐ and long‐term ability to provide protection against heterologous challenge is pending. Here, we discuss communalities and differences between T RM and inflationary CD 8 T cells with respect to their development, maintenance, function, and protective capacity. In addition, we discuss differences and similarities between the transcriptional profiles of T RM and inflationary T cells, supporting the notion that they are distinct memory T cell populations.