Early-life human CD8⁺ T cells exhibit rapid, short-lived effector responses and a unique transcription factor landscape.

ABSTRACT: Neonates and infants are distinct in their clinical and cellular responses to viral infections, with neonatal CD8⁺ T cells displaying innate-like characteristics and a low threshold for T cell receptor activation. However, specific molecular programs that drive these unique responses are incompletely understood, particularly in humans, and targetable pathways to modulate viral illness in this vulnerable population remain to be elucidated. Early-life immune responses may be developmentally programmed to prioritize avoidance of tissue immunopathology, especially while maternal immunoglobulin provides passive immunity. We set out to define the unique response characteristics and transcription factor landscape of neonatal human CD8⁺ T cells. Here, we report evidence that

SUBMITTER: Brodsky NN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12337316 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature