IMMUNOLOGY Early Help in Programming Immune Memories

To generate a convincing humoral immune response to infection, most antibody-producing B cells must receive assistance from CD4⁺ helper T cells. By contrast, the primary response of many CD8⁺ T lymphocytes shows little dependence on T cell help, and there has been debate whether the same holds true for memory CD8⁺ T cells. Sun and Bevan and Shedlock and Shen show that vigorous CD8⁺ T cell memory in mice depends heavily on CD4⁺ T cell help, although this reliance develops specifically during primary rather than secondary responses. Thus, initial priming of CD8⁺ T cells to antigen appears to represent a crucial juncture in the production of efficient immunological memory to infection and vaccines.

J. C. Sun, M. J. Bevan, Defective CD8 T cell memory following acute infection without CD4 T cell help. Science 300, 339-345 (2003). [Abstract] [Full Text]

D. J. Shedlock, H. Shen, Requirement for CD4 T cell help in generating functional CD8 T cell memory. Science 300, 337-339 (2003). [Abstract] [Full Text]

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REPORTS
Requirement for CD4 T Cell Help in Generating Functional CD8 T Cell Memory

Devon J. Shedlock and Hao Shen (11 April 2003)
Science 300 (5617), 337. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1082305]
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »  |  Supporting Online Material »

REPORTS
Defective CD8 T Cell Memory Following Acute Infection Without CD4 T Cell Help

Joseph C. Sun and Michael J. Bevan (11 April 2003)
Science 300 (5617), 339. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1083317]
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »  |  Supporting Online Material »