Location, Location, Location: The Impact of Migratory Heterogeneity on T Cell Function

Abstract

T cell migration is crucial for an effective adaptive immune response to invading pathogens. Naive and memory T cells encounter pathogen antigens, become activated, and differentiate into effector cells in secondary lymphoid tissues, and then migrate to the site(s) of infection where they exert effector activities that control and eliminate pathogens. To achieve activation, efficient effector function, and good memory formation, T cells must traffic between lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues within the body. This complex process is facilitated by chemokine receptors, selectins, CD44, and integrins that mediate the interactions of T cells with the environment. The expression patterns of these migration receptors (MR) dictate the tissues into which the effector T cells migrate and enable them to occupy specific niches within the tissue. While MR have been considered primarily to facilitate cell movement, we highlight how the heterogeneity of signaling through these receptors influences the function and fate of T cells in situ. We explore what drives MR expression heterogeneity, how this affects migration, and how this impacts T cell effector function and memory formation.

Mucosal immunity and novel tuberculosis vaccine strategies: route of immunisation-determined T-cell homing to restricted lung mucosal compartments

“…CD103 and VLA-1 expression has been defined as a residential surface marker for the T-cells in nonlymphoid tissues [18][19][20]. Currently, homing molecules involved in migration of antigen-experienced T-cells to the lung are not well established [21]. This is partly due to the lack of techniques to discriminate intravascular and tissue residing T-cells in the past.…”

“…Following immunisation, local dendritic cell populations acquire antigens and subsequently migrate to the local draining lymph node, priming and activating naïve T-cells. It has been suggested that such antigen-presenting cells play an important role in influencing the expression of receptors critical to the migration of T-cells (termed migratory receptors) to specific tissue sites (reviewed by BAATEN et al [21]). …”

TGF-β Controls the Formation of Kidney-Resident T Cells via Promoting Effector T Cell Extravasation

“…However, these signals are not entirely clear. The molecules that mediate the interaction between leukocytes and blood wall endothelia have been documented(24). CD44, integrins, selectin ligands and inflammatory chemokine receptors on activated T cells cooperate to mediate the engagement with endothelia.…”

Lymphocyte integrin expression differences between SIRS and sepsis patients

“…T-lymphocytes use integrins to migrate in and out of lymph nodes and, following infection, to migrate into other tissues(14, 17, 18, 25). Integrins are key to the immunological cross-talk between T cells and antigen-presenting cells.…”

“…They are responsible for efficient migration of, among other cells, lymphocytes from the lymph nodes to the site of wound or infection(17, 18). Among the integrins expressed upon T-Lymphocytes, Integrin β1 and β2 are involved in lymphocyte functions, such as mediating T-cell interactions with other cells as well as modulating intra-cellular signaling.…”