What is it about?

In this manuscript we shoe evidence that the integrins CD49a (alpha-1) and CD103 (alpha-E) differentially support motility (locomotion) and tethering, respectively, of tissue resident memory CD8+ T cells in the influenza infected trachea. This is the first demonstration that these integrins not only serve as markers of tissue resident memory, but also have functional roles in cell motility and interaction with the tissue microenvironment.

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Why is it important?

Tissue resident memory CD8+ T cells are an important component of immune protection from re-encounter with the same or related strains of respiratory pathogens. In this case we used influenza virus to prime the immune system to form T cell memory. Promoting this type of cross reactive immunity may be a means to achieve universal immunity against influenza and other respiratory pathogens.

Perspectives

It is important to consider that the cell surface proteins we use to identify different subsets of T cells also have biological functions.

David Topham
University of Rochester

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This page is a summary of: T RM integrins CD103 and CD49a differentially support adherence and motility after resolution of influenza virus infection, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, May 2020, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1915681117.
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