Two subsets of memory T lymphocytes with distinct homing potentials and effector functions

Federica Sallusto (), Danielle Lenig, Reinhold Förster, Martin Lipp and Antonio Lanzavecchia
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Federica Sallusto: Basel Institute for Immunology
Danielle Lenig: Basel Institute for Immunology
Reinhold Förster: Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine
Martin Lipp: Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine
Antonio Lanzavecchia: Basel Institute for Immunology

Nature, 1999, vol. 402, issue 6763, 34-38

Abstract: Abstract Originally published as Nature 401, 708–712; 1999 Naive T lymphocytes travel to T-cell areas of secondary lymphoid organs in search of antigen presented by dendritic cells1,2. Once activated, they proliferate vigorously, generating effector cells that can migrate to B-cell areas or to inflamed tissues3,4,5,6. A fraction of primed T lymphocytes persists as circulating memory cells that can confer protection and give, upon secondary challenge, a qualitatively different and quantitatively enhanced response7,8,9. The nature of the cells that mediate the different facets of immunological memory remains unresolved. Here we show that expression of CCR7, a chemokine receptor that controls homing to secondary lymphoid organs, divides human memory T cells into two functionally distinct subsets. CCR7- memory cells express receptors for migration to inflamed tissues and display immediate effector function. In contrast, CCR7+ memory cells express lymph-node homing receptors and lack immediate effector function, but efficiently stimulate dendritic cells and differentiate into CCR7- effector cells upon secondary stimulation. The CCR7+ and CCR7- T cells, which we have named central memory (TCM) and effector memory (TEM), differentiate in a step-wise fashion from naive T cells, persist for years after immunization and allow a division of labour in the memory response.

Date: 1999
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DOI: 10.1038/35005534

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