Cutting edge: lymphoid tissue inducer cells maintain memory CD4 T cells within secondary lymphoid tissue.

ABSTRACT: Phylogeny shows that CD4 T cell memory and lymph nodes coevolved in placental mammals. In ontogeny, retinoic acid orphan receptor (ROR)?-dependent lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells program the development of mammalian lymph nodes. In this study, we show that although primary CD4 T cell expansion is normal in ROR?-deficient mice, the persistence of memory CD4 T cells is ROR?-dependent. Furthermore, using bone marrow chimeric mice we demonstrate that LTi cells are the key ROR?-expressing cell type sufficient for memory CD4 T cell survival in the absence of persistent Ag. This effect was specific for CD4 T cells, as memory CD8 T cells survived equally well in the presence or absence of LTi cells. These data demonstrate a novel role for LTi cells, archetypal members of the innate lymphoid cell family, in supporting memory CD4 T cell survival in vivo.

SUBMITTER: Withers DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3442242 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature