Genes up-regulated in CD8 T cells: stem cell memory versus naïve.
Full description or abstract
An early-differentiated CD8+ memory T cell subset with stem cell-like properties (TSCM) can be identified within the naïve-like T cell population by the expression of CD95/Fas. Based on experiments including exon- and gene-level expression analysis, we provide evidence that this subset of antigen-specific cells represents an early precursor of conventional central (TCM) and effector (TEM) memory CD8+ T cells with enhanced self-renewal capacity and proliferative potential. We identified 900 genes differentially expressed between major T cell subsets defined along with memory T cell commitment. Based on the analysis of these genes, CD95+ naïve T cells (TSCM) cluster closer to the CD8+ T memory compartment than to classical (CD95-) naïve T (TN) cells, and display an intermittent phenotype between classical TN and TCM cells in terms of all major T cell differentiation markers analyzed.
