Resident memory CD8 T cells persist for years in human small intestine

Resident memory CD8 T (Trm) cells have been shown to provide effective protective responses in the small intestine (SI) in mice. A better understanding of the generation and persistence of SI CD8 Trm cells in humans may have implications for intestinal immune-mediated diseases and vaccine development. Analyzing normal and transplanted human SI, we demonstrated that the majority of SI CD8 T cells were bona fide CD8 Trm cells that survived for >1 yr in the graft. Intraepithelial and lamina propria CD8 Trm cells showed a high clonal overlap and a repertoire dominated by expanded clones, conserved both spatially in the intestine and over time. Functionally, lamina propria CD8 Trm cells were potent cytokine producers, exhibiting a polyfunctional (IFN-+ IL-2+ TNF-α+) profile, and efficiently expressed cytotoxic mediators after stimulation. These results suggest that SI CD8 Trm cells could be relevant targets for future oral vaccines and therapeutic strategies for gut disorders.

Source: The Journal of Experimental Medicine - October 6, 2019 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Bartolome-Casado, R., Landsverk, O. J. B., Chauhan, S. K., Richter, L., Phung, D., Greiff, V., Risnes, L. F., Yao, Y., Neumann, R. S., Yaqub, S., Oyen, O., Horneland, R., Aandahl, E. M., Paulsen, V., Sollid, L. M., Qiao, S.-W., Baekkevold, E. S., Jahnsen, Tags: Mucosal Immunology Articles Source Type: research