About this Research Topic
A cardinal feature of adaptive immunity is its ability to generate memory T cells. Although they are essential to protection against infections, especially in the face of immunosuppression after transplantation, memory T cells mediate vigorous allograft rejection and are a barrier to transplant tolerance. Both antigen-experienced and homeostatically proliferated T cells can give rise to memory cells while preexisting memory T cells also pose a threat to transplant survival. Memory T cells exhibit a feature of heterogeneity with differential phenotypes and functionality, such as central versus effector memory and "exhausted" memory cells. It's known that CD4+CD25+ Tregs have a memory phenotype of CD44highCD62L+. Recent studies also have shown that CD8+ T cells with memory phenotypes (CD122+) contain both effector and regulator components. Thus, memory T cells play dual roles in transplant survival or tolerance. This Research Topic will provide a comprehensive overview of various components of memory effectors, exhausted memory and memory-like regulatory T cells. In this topic, we will explore possible cellular and molecular pathways involved in memory T cell-mediated rejection or survival and discuss new strategies of inducing transplant tolerance while preserving immunity to pathogens.
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