Learn about virtual memory CD8+ T cells

Virtual memory CD8+ T cells (T _{virtual machines}) have only recently been discovered in humans
.
A new review discusses understanding of them from mouse models and human cell equivalents, as described in the peer-reviewed Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research (JICR).

Maria Cecillia Rodriguez-Galan Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and his collaborators reviewed the biology and development of innate memory (TIM/TVM) cells
.

"The discovery of human CD8+ T cells with the same characteristics as mouse T cells in _recent years, cells have aroused great interest and presented a new challenge not only to try to understand their role in different pathological processes, but also to try to distinguish which roles are mistakenly assigned to specific memory cells rather than virtual memory cells," the researchers said
。 "There are a large number of publications that increasingly elucidate their origin, functional characteristics and their role in different pathological processes, especially in infections and cancers, which will provide new advantages
for understanding their critical role in the immune system.
"

"The memory of most immune T cells is trained by exposure to antigens provided by invading pathogens
.
However, in the absence of significant antigen exposure, a group of memory T cells emerge, called "virtual memory" cells
.
This article by Viano and his colleagues provides a comprehensive review of what we know about this mysterious cell population – origin, phenotype, and effector function
.
The authors also discuss similar virtual memory CD8+ T cell populations
in humans.
Dr.
David L.
(Woody) Woodland, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research, said: "This manuscript will be of particular interest
to vaccine scientists, immunologists and infectious disease researchers.
"