Open AccessEffector CD8 T Cell Development: A Balancing Act between Memory Cell Potential and Terminal Differentiation
Author(s) -
Nikhil S. Joshi,
Susan M. Kaech
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the journal of immunology/the journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.737
H-Index - 372
eISSN - 1550-6606
pISSN - 0022-1767
DOI - 10.4049/jimmunol.180.3.1309
Subject(s) - effector , biology , cd8 , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , cytotoxic t cell , cellular differentiation , memory cell , t cell , immunology , genetics , engineering , gene , transistor , voltage , electrical engineering , in vitro
Immune responses to infection are optimally designed to generate large numbers of effector T cells while simultaneously minimizing the collateral damage of their potentially lethal actions and generating memory T cells to protect against subsequent encounter with pathogens. Much remains to be discovered about how these equally essential processes are balanced to enhance health and longevity and, more specifically, what factors control effector T cell expansion, differentiation, and memory cell formation. The innate immune system plays a prominent role in the delicate balance of these decisions. Insights into these questions from recent work in the area of effector CD8 T cell differentiation will be discussed.