Three memory subsets of human CD8+ T cells differently expressing three cytolytic effector molecules

Hiroshi Takata, Masafumi Takiguchi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

140 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multicolor flow cytometric analysis for the expression of three effector molecules, i.e., perforin (Per), granzyme A (GraA), and granzyme B (GraB), in human CB8+ T cells demonstrated that they included five subpopulations, implying the following pathway for the differentiation of CD8+ T cells: Per-GraA-GraB -→Per-GraA+GraB-→Per lowGraA+GraB-→ PerlowGraA +GraB+→PerhighGraA+GraB +. The analysis of the expression of these molecules in the subsets classified by the combination of the expression of CCR7 and CD45RA or by that of CD27, CD28, and CD45RA showed that functional CD8+ T cell subsets could be partially identified by these phenotypic classifications. However, the functional subsets could be precisely identified by the classification using five cell surface markers or three cell surface markers and three cytolytic molecules. Per-GraA-GraB- and Per -/lowGraA+GraB- cells were predominantly found in CCR5-CCR7+ and CCR5high/lowCCR7- subsets, respectively, of CD8+ T cells expressing the CD27 +CD28+CD45RA- phenotype, whereas Per lowGraA+GraB+ cells were found in the CCR5 lowCCR7- subset of those expressing this phenotype and in a part of the CCR5-/lowCCR7- subset of those expressing the CD27-/lowCD28-CD45RA-/+ phenotype. Ex vivo EBV-specific CD8+ T cells, which were Perlow/--GraA +GraB-/+ cells, hardly or very weakly killed the target cells, indicating that these were not effector T cells. These findings suggest that the Per-GraA-GraB-, Per -/lowGraA+GraB-, and PerlowGraA +GraB+ cells were central memory, early effector memory, and late effector memory T cells, respectively. Per-/lowGraA +GraB- cells gained GraB expression after TCR stimulation, indicating that early effector memory T cells could differentiate into late effector and effector T cells. The present study showed the existence of three memory subsets and the pathway for their differentiation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4330-4340
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume177
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2006
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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