Epidermal Resident Memory T Cell Fitness Requires Antigen Encounter in the Skin.

ABSTRACT: CD8⁺ tissue resident memory T cells (T_RM) develop from effectors that seed peripheral tissues where they persist providing defense against subsequent challenges. T_RM persistence requires autocrine TGFβ transactivated by integrins expressed on keratinocytes. T_RM precursors that encounter antigen in the epidermis during development outcompete bystander T_RM for TGFβ resulting in enhanced persistence. ScRNA-seq analysis of epidermal T_RM revealed that local antigen experience in the skin resulted in an enhanced differentiation signature in comparison with bystanders. Upon recall, T_RM displayed greater proliferation dictated by affinity of antigen experienced during epidermal development. Finally, local antigen experien

SUBMITTER: Weiss ES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11996394 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature