Liver-resident memory T cells: life in lockdown

We describe potential interactions with other local cell types and the need for a better understanding of this complex bidirection al crosstalk. Pathogen or tumour antigen-specific tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) can provide rapid frontline immune surveillance; we review the evidence for this in hepatotropic infections of major worldwide importance like hepatitis B and malaria and in liver cancers like hepatocellular carcinoma. Conversely, TRM can be triggered by pro-inflammatory and metabolic signals to mediate bystander tissue damage, with an emerging role in a number of liver pathologies. We discuss the need for liver sampling to gain a window into these compartmentalised T cells, allowing more accurate disease monitoring and future locally targeted immunotherapies.
Source: Seminars in Immunopathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research