Mini‐review CD4 T cells are required for CD8 T cell memory generation

C Bourgeois, C Tanchot - European journal of immunology, 2003 - Wiley Online Library
C Bourgeois, C Tanchot
European journal of immunology, 2003Wiley Online Library
Whereas the role of CD4 T cells in B cell memory generation is well established and
unequivocal, the role that CD4 T cells play in CD8 responses was until recently far more
elusive and controversial. A series of recent reports, however, have re‐assessed the role of
CD4 help on CD8 responses and have given rise to surprisingly unambiguous conclusions.
While studying very different systems, they demonstrated that CD4 T cells are absolutely
required for the generation of bona fide CD8 memory cells; the reports allow, for the first …
Abstract
Whereas the role of CD4 T cells in B cell memory generation is well established and unequivocal, the role that CD4 T cells play in CD8 responses was until recently far more elusive and controversial. A series of recent reports, however, have re‐assessed the role of CD4 help on CD8 responses and have given rise to surprisingly unambiguous conclusions. While studying very different systems, they demonstrated that CD4 T cells are absolutely required for the generation of bona fide CD8 memory cells; the reports allow, for the first time, strong analogies to be made between B and CD8 memory cell generation. These data invite us to drastically change our idea of CD4 help on CD8 responses because they show that the old dichotomy — Th‐dependent versus Th‐independentCD8 responses — is no longer accurate.
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