Antigen-Specific T Cells Maintain an Effector Memory Phenotype during Persistent Trypanosoma cruzi Infection

摘要: Infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Central South America. Control acute experimental infection T. dependent on robust T cell type 1 cytokine response. However, little evidence exists demonstrating development persistence potent antiparasite memory response, there has been much speculation that majority immune response to not directed against parasite. In this study, we used an mouse model test both Ag specificity functional phenotypic characteristics responding population. We observed vigorous from CD4 + CD8 cells was maintained face persistent infection. infected mice also proliferated re-exposure Ag, underwent spontaneous proliferation when transferred naive congenic mice, characteristic central cells. Interestingly, showed significant down-regulation CD62L, associated effector phenotype. These results suggest chronic are fully cannot be easily categorized current central/effector paradigm.