Virus-induced CD8(+) T cell clonal expansion is associated with telomeraseup-regulation and telomere length preservation: A mechanism for rescue from replicative senescence

Citation
Mk. Maini et al., Virus-induced CD8(+) T cell clonal expansion is associated with telomeraseup-regulation and telomere length preservation: A mechanism for rescue from replicative senescence, J IMMUNOL, 162(8), 1999, pp. 4521-4526
Citations number
35
Categorie Soggetti
Immunology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
ISSN journal
00221767 → ACNP
Volume
162
Issue
8
Year of publication
1999
Pages
4521 - 4526
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-1767(19990415)162:8<4521:VCTCCE>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
In acute infectious mononucleosis (AIR I), very large clones of Ag-specific CD8(+) effector T cells are generated. Many clones persist as memory cells , although the clone size is greatly reduced. It would be expected that the large number of cell divisions occurring during clonal expansion would lea d to shortening of telomeres, predisposing to replicative senescence. Inste ad, we show that clonally expanded CD8(+) T cells in AIM have paradoxical p reservation of telomere length in association, with marked up-regulation of telomerase, We postulate that this allows a proportion of responding T cel ls to enter the memory pool with a preserved capacity to continue dividing so that long-term immunological memory can be maintained.