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The role of epigenetics in the acquisition and maintenance of effector function in virus‐specific CD8 T cells
Author(s) -
Olson Matthew R.,
Russ Brendan E.,
Doherty Peter C.,
Turner Stephen J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1002/iub.351
Subject(s) - effector , cytotoxic t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cd8 , biology , function (biology) , antigen , immunology , genetics , in vitro
CD8 + T cells are critical for protecting the body from infectious disease. To achieve this protection, CD8 + T cells must undergo a highly involved process of differentiation that involves the activation of naïve/quiescent cells followed by robust rounds of cell division and the acquisition of effector functions that mediate viral clearance. After the pathogen is eliminated, a small number of these cells survive into long‐lived memory and maintain the capacity to respond rapidly and reacquire effector function after secondary exposure to their cognate antigen. This review focuses on how CD8 + T cells acquire and regulate effector functions and how the capacity to produce effector molecules is maintained into memory. © 2010 IUBMB IUBMB Life 62(7): 519–526, 2010