Human memory T cells from the bone marrow are resting and maintain long-lasting systemic memory

A Okhrimenko, JR Grün, K Westendorf… - Proceedings of the …, 2014 - National Acad Sciences
A Okhrimenko, JR Grün, K Westendorf, Z Fang, S Reinke, P von Roth, G Wassilew, AA Kühl…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014National Acad Sciences
In the bone marrow, a population of memory T cells has been described that promotes
efficient secondary immune responses and has been considered to be preactivated, owing
to its expression of CD69 and CD25. Here we show that human bone marrow professional
memory T cells are not activated but are resting in terms of proliferation, transcription, and
mobility. They are in the G0 phase of the cell cycle, and their transcriptome is that of resting T
cells. The repertoire of CD4+ bone marrow memory T cells compared with CD4+ memory T …
In the bone marrow, a population of memory T cells has been described that promotes efficient secondary immune responses and has been considered to be preactivated, owing to its expression of CD69 and CD25. Here we show that human bone marrow professional memory T cells are not activated but are resting in terms of proliferation, transcription, and mobility. They are in the G0 phase of the cell cycle, and their transcriptome is that of resting T cells. The repertoire of CD4+ bone marrow memory T cells compared with CD4+ memory T cells from the blood is significantly enriched for T cells specific for cytomegalovirus-pp65 (immunodominant protein), tetanus toxoid, measles, mumps, and rubella. It is not enriched for vaccinia virus and Candida albicans-MP65 (immunodominant protein), typical pathogens of skin and/or mucosa. CD4+ memory T cells specific for measles are maintained nearly exclusively in the bone marrow. Thus, CD4+ memory T cells from the bone marrow provide long-term memory for systemic pathogens.
National Acad Sciences