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Going Virtual as a Memory-Phenotype T Lymphocyte

Yang, Bin LU and Dewals, Benjamin G. (2026) In European Journal of Immunology 56(3).
Abstract

Conventional or ‘true’ memory CD8+ T cells (TTM) arise from immunologically naive T cells that circulate in the periphery after selection in the thymus. During infection or immunization by a foreign antigen, naive T cells can receive antigen-specific activation signals after recognition of MHC-antigenic peptide complexes. But the CD8+ T-cell population in immunologically naive hosts is not restricted to circulating naive T cells expecting cognate antigen encounter. Indeed, memory-phenotype T cells (TMP) develop in the absence of foreign antigen encounter and therefore exist in naive, pathogen-free, as well as germ-free conditions. TMP have been shown to mediate bystander cell... (More)

Conventional or ‘true’ memory CD8+ T cells (TTM) arise from immunologically naive T cells that circulate in the periphery after selection in the thymus. During infection or immunization by a foreign antigen, naive T cells can receive antigen-specific activation signals after recognition of MHC-antigenic peptide complexes. But the CD8+ T-cell population in immunologically naive hosts is not restricted to circulating naive T cells expecting cognate antigen encounter. Indeed, memory-phenotype T cells (TMP) develop in the absence of foreign antigen encounter and therefore exist in naive, pathogen-free, as well as germ-free conditions. TMP have been shown to mediate bystander cell killing through innate mechanisms, as well as rapidly respond to cognate antigen stimulation. While the existence of foreign antigen-inexperienced TMP is now well acknowledged in laboratory mice, and also recognized in humans, the extensive nomenclature used for their description challenges the overall understanding of their multiple functions in health and disease. This article discusses the current understanding and controversies on the origin, maintenance and functions of the various populations recognized as TMP and highlights some potential challenges for deciphering their fate.

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
European Journal of Immunology
volume
56
issue
3
article number
e70174
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • pmid:41838023
  • scopus:105032753367
ISSN
0014-2980
DOI
10.1002/eji.70174
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2026 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
id
34d9646f-1fb9-458b-9692-54419e70dd55
date added to LUP
2026-05-11 15:42:48
date last changed
2026-05-25 16:40:12
@article{34d9646f-1fb9-458b-9692-54419e70dd55,
  abstract     = {{<p>Conventional or ‘true’ memory CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells (T<sub>TM</sub>) arise from immunologically naive T cells that circulate in the periphery after selection in the thymus. During infection or immunization by a foreign antigen, naive T cells can receive antigen-specific activation signals after recognition of MHC-antigenic peptide complexes. But the CD8<sup>+</sup> T-cell population in immunologically naive hosts is not restricted to circulating naive T cells expecting cognate antigen encounter. Indeed, memory-phenotype T cells (T<sub>MP</sub>) develop in the absence of foreign antigen encounter and therefore exist in naive, pathogen-free, as well as germ-free conditions. T<sub>MP</sub> have been shown to mediate bystander cell killing through innate mechanisms, as well as rapidly respond to cognate antigen stimulation. While the existence of foreign antigen-inexperienced T<sub>MP</sub> is now well acknowledged in laboratory mice, and also recognized in humans, the extensive nomenclature used for their description challenges the overall understanding of their multiple functions in health and disease. This article discusses the current understanding and controversies on the origin, maintenance and functions of the various populations recognized as T<sub>MP</sub> and highlights some potential challenges for deciphering their fate.</p>}},
  author       = {{Yang, Bin and Dewals, Benjamin G.}},
  issn         = {{0014-2980}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Immunology}},
  title        = {{Going Virtual as a Memory-Phenotype T Lymphocyte}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.70174}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/eji.70174}},
  volume       = {{56}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}