Swiss scientists have solved an 18-year mystery about the origin of a special population of immune cells known as central memory stem-like T cells.
Publika.az reports that the results of the study were published in the “Science Immunology” magazine.
Stem-like central memory T cells (TCM) were first identified in 2005. They store information about previously active pathogens, causing a rapid protective response when reinfected. Scientists have hypothesized that they may be part of the cytotoxic CD8 T cells, known as killer T cells.
Experiments using an animal model have proven that the hypotheses are correct. When laboratory animals were exposed to a viral infection, central memory T cells began to rapidly develop from precursors that are actually CD8 T cells, or killer T cells.
In the early stages of the immune response, progenitor cells, or TpCM, use the transcription factor TCF1 to promote their transformation into TCM, while other CD8 T cells differentiate in response to inflammatory signals and perform other roles.
Jamila
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