Effector differentiation is not prerequisite for generation of memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes
J. Clin. Invest. N. Manjunath, et al. 108:871 doi:10.1172/JCI13296 [Go to this article.]

Figure 4
TCR stimulation induces cells maintained in IL-15 to proliferate vigorously and to rapidly acquire effector phenotype and function. Tg splenocytes were stimulated with gp33 peptide, maintained in IL-15 for 7 days and then were restimulated with αCD3 for 48 hours or maintained in IL-15 without restimulation. Subsequently, both populations were tested for proliferation by thymidine incorporation (a), activation status (b), and peptide-specific cytotoxicity (c). In b the phenotype of cells maintained in parallel with a high dose of IL-2 (20 ng/ml) is also shown for comparison. Peptide-stimulated cells maintained in low doses of IL-2 (5 ng/ml or less), which resembled IL-15–treated cells in phenotype and function, also proliferated and rapidly acquired effector phenotype and cytotoxic function after restimulation (not shown).