T cell death and memory
In typical immune responses, contact with antigen causes naı̈ve T cells to proliferate and
differentiate into effector cells. After the pathogen is destroyed, most effector T cells are
eliminated—thereby preserving the primary T cell repertoire—but some cells survive and
form long-lived memory cells. During each stage of this process, the life or death fate of T
cells is strictly regulated.
differentiate into effector cells. After the pathogen is destroyed, most effector T cells are
eliminated—thereby preserving the primary T cell repertoire—but some cells survive and
form long-lived memory cells. During each stage of this process, the life or death fate of T
cells is strictly regulated.
In typical immune responses, contact with antigen causes naı̈ve T cells to proliferate and differentiate into effector cells. After the pathogen is destroyed, most effector T cells are eliminated—thereby preserving the primary T cell repertoire—but some cells survive and form long-lived memory cells. During each stage of this process, the life or death fate of T cells is strictly regulated.
AAAS