Phenotype and functions of memory CD8 T cells

Immunological memory is the capacity of the immune system to respond faster and more efficiently against an antigen it has encountered in the past. T cell memory results not only from an increase in the frequency of antigen specific T lymphocytes but also from the enhanced responsiveness of primed cells. Different subsets of memory CD8 T cells have recently been described. Current knowledge on the phenotype of these cells as well as on the conditions leading to their generation and survival will be reviewed in this paper.