Induction of memory-like CD8 + T cells and CD4 + T cells from human naive T cells in culture.

ABSTRACT: Memory T cells are crucial players in vertebrate adaptive immunity but their development is incompletely understood. Here we describe a method to produce human memory-like T cells from naïve human T cells in culture. Using commercially available human T cell differentiation kits, both purified naïve CD8 + T cells and purified naïve CD4 + T cells were activated via T cell receptor signaling and appropriate cytokines for several days in culture. All the T cell activators were then removed from the medium and the cultures were continued in hypoxic condition (1% O2 atmosphere) for several more days; during this period, most of the cells died, but some survived in a quiescent state for a month. The survivors had small round cell bodies, expressed differentiation markers characteristic of memory T cells and restarted proliferation when the T cell activators were added back. We could also induce memory-like T cells from naïve human T cells without hypoxia, if we froze the activated T cells or prepared the naïve T cells from chilled filter buffy coats.

SUBMITTER: Tokumoto Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8802181 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature