Different T Cell Receptor Signals Determine CD8+ Memory Versus Effector Development (original) (raw)

CD8+ T cells differentiate into either short-lived effector cells or long-lived memory T cells post-infection, but the T cell receptor (TCR) signals that dictate this fate remain unclear. This study utilized a mutant TCR transgenic model to demonstrate that point mutations in the TCR's b transmembrane domain impair the development and functionality of CD8+ memory T cells without impacting primary effector responses. Consequently, it reveals that distinct TCR signaling pathways determine whether a primed T cell will adopt an effector or memory phenotype, providing significant insights into T cell differentiation mechanisms.