Human Tissue-Resident Memory T Cells Are Defined by Core Transcriptional and Functional Signatures in Lymphoid and Mucosal Sites. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRMs) in mice mediate optimal protective immunity to infection and vaccination, while in humans, the existence and properties of TRMs remain unclear. Here, we use a unique human tissue resource to determine whether human tissue memory T cells constitute a distinct subset in diverse mucosal and lymphoid tissues. We identify a core transcriptional profile within the CD69+ subset of memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in lung and spleen that is distinct from that of CD69- TEM cells in tissues and circulation and defines human TRMs based on homology to the transcriptional profile of mouse CD8+ TRMs. Human TRMs in diverse sites exhibit increased expression of adhesion and inhibitory molecules, produce both pro-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines, and have reduced turnover compared with circulating TEM, suggesting unique adaptations for in situ immunity. Together, our results provide a unifying signature for human TRM and a blueprint for designing tissue-targeted immunotherapies.

publication date

  • September 19, 2017

Research

keywords

  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Lymphoid Tissue
  • Mucous Membrane
  • T-Lymphocytes
  • Transcription, Genetic

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC5646692

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85029578875

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.08.078

PubMed ID

  • 28930685

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 20

issue

  • 12