Location rather than CD62L phenotype is critical in the early establishment of influenza-specific CD8 T cell memory

Abstract

The rapid recall of influenza virus-specific CD8+ T cell effector function is protective, although our understanding of T cell memory remains incomplete. Recent debate has focused particularly on the CD62L lymph node homing receptor. The present analysis shows that although functional memory can be established from both CD62Lhi and CD62Llo CD8 + T cell subsets soon after initial encounter between naive precursors and antigen, the optimal precursors are CD8+CD44 hiCD25lo immune lymphocytes isolated from draining lymph nodes on day 3.5 after influenza virus infection. Analysis of primed T cells at different times after challenge indicates that the capacity to transfer memory is diminished at t..