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Using HLA class I-viral epitope tetramers to monitor herpes virus-specific CD8(+) T cell responses in humans, we have shown that a significant fraction of responding cells revert from a CD45RO(+) to a CD45RA(+) state after priming. All tetramer-binding CD45RA(+) cells, regardless of epitope specificity, expressed a phenotype LFA-1(high)CCR7(low) that was stable for at least 10 years in infectious mononucleosis patients and indefinitely in asymptomatic carriers. CD8(+)CD45RA(+)LFA-1(high) cells were not present in cord blood but in adults account for up to 50% of CD8(+)CD45RA(+) cells. These CD45RA(+)LFA-1(high) cells have significantly shorter telomeres than CD45RA(+)LFA-1(low) cells, suggesting that the latter represent a naive population, while the former are memory cells. CD45RA(+) memory cells are a stable population of noncycling cells, but on stimulation they are potent producers of IFN-gamma, while naive CD8(+) cells produce only IL-2. The chemokine receptor profile and migratory potential of CD45RA(+) memory cells is very similar to CD45RO(+) cells but different to naive CD8 cells. In accord with this, CD45RA(+) memory cells were significantly underrepresented in lymph nodes, but account for virtually all CD8(+)CD45RA(+) T cells in peripheral tissues of the same individuals.

Original publication

DOI

10.4049/jimmunol.167.1.212

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Immunol

Publication Date

01/07/2001

Volume

167

Pages

212 - 220

Keywords

Apoptosis, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Cell Division, Cell Movement, Chemotaxis, Leukocyte, Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte, HLA-A2 Antigen, HLA-B8 Antigen, Humans, Immunologic Memory, Immunophenotyping, Interphase, Leukocyte Common Antigens, Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1, Organ Specificity, Peptide Fragments, Receptors, CCR5, Receptors, CCR7, Receptors, Chemokine, T-Lymphocyte Subsets