Resident memory T cells form during persistent antigen exposure leading to allograft rejection.

ABSTRACT: Tissue-resident memory T cells (T_RM) contained at sites of previous infection provide local protection against reinfection. Whether they form and function in organ transplants where cognate antigen persists is unclear. This is a key question in transplantation as T cells are detected long term in allografts, but it is not known whether they are exhausted or are functional memory T cells. Using a mouse model of kidney transplantation, we showed that antigen-specific and polyclonal effector T cells differentiated in the graft into T_RM and subsequently caused allograft rejection. T_RM identity was established by surface phenotype, transcriptional profile, and inability to recirculate in parabiosis and retransplantation experiments. Graft T_RM prolifer

SUBMITTER: Abou-Daya KI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8103522 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature