Impairment of immunological memory in the absence of MHC despite survival of memory T cells

11 February 2002

journal article
Published by Springer Nature in Nature Immunology

Vol. 3 (3) , 244-250
https://doi.org/10.1038/ni766

Abstract

The mechanisms by which immunological memory is maintained after infection or vaccination are still a matter of debate. Long-term survival of memory T cells does not require major histocompatibility complex (MHC) contact. We show here that compared with memory CD4+ T cells that maintain contact with MHC class II, memory CD4+ T cells deprived of MHC class II contact show distinct functional defects upon antigen re-encounter. Thus, in contrast to their survival, maintenance of the typical quality of memory T cells crucially depends on MHC-derived signals.

Keywords

MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX

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