Memory-phenotype CD4⁺ T cells spontaneously generated under steady-state conditions exert innate T_H1-like effector function.

ABSTRACT: Conventional CD4⁺ T cells are composed of naïve, pathogen-specific memory, and pathogen-independent memory-phenotype (MP) cells under steady state. Naïve and pathogen-specific memory cells play key roles in adaptive immunity, whereas the homeostatic mechanisms regulating the generation of MP cells and their biological functions are unclear. We show that MP cells are autonomously generated from peripheral naïve cells in the absence of infectious stimulation in a T cell receptor (TCR)- and CD28-dependent manner. We further demonstrate that MP cells contain a T-bet^hi subpopulation that is continuously generated by environmental interleukin-12 (IL-12) and rapidly produces interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in response to IL-12 in the absence of pathogen recognition. These cells can pro

SUBMITTER: Kawabe T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5568832 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature