AUTHOR=Liu Junfeng , Chen Dacan , Nie Golay D. , Dai Zhenhua TITLE=CD8+CD122+ T-Cells: A Newly Emerging Regulator with Central Memory Cell Phenotypes JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=6 YEAR=2015 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2015.00494 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2015.00494 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=

CD8⁺CD122⁺ T-cells have been traditionally described as antigen-specific memory T-cells that respond to previously encountered antigens more quickly and vigorously than their naïve counterparts. However, mounting evidence has demonstrated that murine CD8⁺CD122⁺ T-cells exhibit a central memory phenotype (CD44^highCD62L^high), regulate T cell homeostasis, and act as regulatory T-cells (Treg) by suppressing both autoimmune and alloimmune responses. Importantly, naturally occurring murine CD8⁺CD122⁺ Tregs are more potent in immunosuppression than their CD4⁺CD25⁺ counterparts. They appear to be acting in an antigen-non-specific manner. Human CD8⁺CXCR3⁺ T-cells are the equivalent of murine CD8⁺CD122⁺ Tregs and also exhibit central memory phenotypes. In this mini-review article, we will summarize recent progresses in their phenotypes, homeostatic expansion, antigen-specificity, roles in the suppression of alloimmune and autoimmune responses, and the mechanisms underlying their inhibitory function.