Activated CD8 T Cells Redistribute to Antigen-Free Lymph Nodes and Exhibit Effector and Memory Characteristics

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 181; no. 3; pp. 1814 - 1824
• Main Authors: Brinkman, C. Colin, Sheasley-O'Neill, Stacey L, Ferguson, Andrew R, Engelhard, Victor H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 01-08-2008
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens - immunology; Bone Marrow - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Cells, Cultured; Dendritic Cells - cytology; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Immunologic Memory - immunology; Lymph Nodes - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation - immunology; Mice; Phenotype
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.181.3.1814

Exogenous dendritic cells display restricted trafficking when injected in vivo and stimulate CD8 T cell responses that are localized to a small number of lymphoid compartments. By examining these responses in the presence and absence of FTY720, a drug that causes sequestration of T cells in lymph nodes, we demonstrate that a significant fraction of divided CD8 T cells redistribute into Ag-free lymph nodes within 3 days of activation. Despite variation in the level of expression of CD62L, redistribution of these cells is CD62L-dependent. Redistributed CD8 T cells exhibit characteristics of differentiated effectors. However, when re-isolated from Ag-free lymph nodes 3 days after activation and transferred into naive mice, they persist for at least 3 wk and expand upon Ag challenge. Thus, CD8 T cells that redistribute to Ag-free lymph nodes 3 days after immunization contain memory precursors. We suggest that this redistribution process represents an important mechanism for establishment of lymph node resident central memory, and that redistribution to Ag-free nodes is an additional characteristic to be added to those that distinguish memory precursors from terminal effectors.