Rapid communication Differentiation of human cd T cells towards distinct memory phenotypes

Vc9/Vd2 T cells comprise a small population of peripheral T cells responding towards the low molecular weight antigen, (E)-4hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl-pyrophosphate (HMB-PP). HMB-PP-stimulated Vc9/Vd2 T cells proliferated, expressed CCL5/ RANTES, and upregulated markers like CD16, CD25, CD69, and CD94, in the presence of either IL-15 or IL-21. Vc9/Vd2 T cells grown in the presence of IL-15 differentiated into an effector/memory population characterized by production of TNF-a, expression of CD45RO and CCR5, and lack of CD62L, CD81, and CCR7. In contrast, Vc9/Vd2 T cells grown with IL-21 differentiated into putative central memory CD45RO þ T cells that did not produce TNF-a, IFN-c, or IL-4, and maintained expression of CD62L, CD81, and CCR7.