[HTML][HTML] Tissue adaptation and clonal segregation of human memory T cells in barrier sites

MML Poon, DP Caron, Z Wang, SB Wells, D Chen… - Nature …, 2023 - nature.com
MML Poon, DP Caron, Z Wang, SB Wells, D Chen, W Meng, PA Szabo, N Lam, M Kubota
Nature immunology, 2023nature.com
T lymphocytes migrate to barrier sites after exposure to pathogens, providing localized
immunity and long-term protection. Here, we obtained blood and tissues from human organ
donors to examine T cells across major barrier sites (skin, lung, jejunum), associated lymph
nodes, lymphoid organs (spleen, bone marrow), and in circulation. By integrating single-cell
protein and transcriptome profiling, we demonstrate that human barrier sites contain tissue-
resident memory T (TRM) cells that exhibit site-adapted profiles for residency, homing and …
Abstract
T lymphocytes migrate to barrier sites after exposure to pathogens, providing localized immunity and long-term protection. Here, we obtained blood and tissues from human organ donors to examine T cells across major barrier sites (skin, lung, jejunum), associated lymph nodes, lymphoid organs (spleen, bone marrow), and in circulation. By integrating single-cell protein and transcriptome profiling, we demonstrate that human barrier sites contain tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells that exhibit site-adapted profiles for residency, homing and function distinct from circulating memory T cells. Incorporating T cell receptor and transcriptome analysis, we show that circulating memory T cells are highly expanded, display extensive overlap between sites and exhibit effector and cytolytic functional profiles, while TRM clones exhibit site-specific expansions and distinct functional capacities. Together, our findings indicate that circulating T cells are more disseminated and differentiated, while TRM cells exhibit tissue-specific adaptation and clonal segregation, suggesting that strategies to promote barrier immunity require tissue targeting.
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