Frontiers in Immunology (Jan 2020)

Enhanced Cell Division Is Required for the Generation of Memory CD4 T Cells to Migrate Into Their Proper Location

  • Jana Sarkander,
  • Shintaro Hojyo,
  • Mathias Mursell,
  • Yuzuru Yamasaki,
  • Tsung-Yen Wu,
  • Damon J. Tumes,
  • Kosuke Miyauchi,
  • Cam Loan Tran,
  • Jinfang Zhu,
  • Max Löhning,
  • Max Löhning,
  • Andreas Hutloff,
  • Mir-Farzin Mashreghi,
  • Masato Kubo,
  • Masato Kubo,
  • Andreas Radbruch,
  • Koji Tokoyoda

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.03113
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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CD4 T cell memory is fundamental for long-lasting immunity and effective secondary responses following infection or vaccination. We have previously found that memory CD4 T cells specific for systemic antigens preferentially reside in the bone marrow (BM) and arise from splenic CD49b+T-bet+ CD4 T cells. However, how BM-homing memory precursors are generated during an immune reaction is unknown. We show here that BM memory precursors are generated via augmented rates of cell division throughout a primary immune response. Treatment with the cytostatic drug cyclophosphamide or blockade of the CD28/B7 co-stimulatory pathway at the beginning of the contraction phase abrogates the generation of BM memory precursors. We determine that, following a critical number of cell divisions, memory precursors downregulate CCR7 and upregulate IL-2Rβ, indicating that loss of CCR7 and gain of IL-2 signal are required for the migration of memory precursors toward the BM.

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