IMMUNOLOGY2025™ Conference Recordings-CD4+ T cells in the tissues

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker focused on CD4 T-cell memory and its role in both protective immunity and allergic disease. They explained that memory cells respond much faster than naive cells, making vaccines effective, but the same biology can drive asthma and allergy. In house dust mite–induced asthma models, the lab identified allergen-specific tissue-resident CD4 T cells in the lung. Single-cell and imaging studies revealed two key populations: TCF1/TCF7-positive cells located in B-cell-rich tertiary lymphoid structures, and cytokine-producing Th2 cells (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) found throughout lung tissue near airways. B-cell depletion reduced the TCF1-positive population, suggesting these structures help maintain precursor-like cells. Adoptive transfer experiments showed TCF1-positive cells can regenerate multiple effector populations, acting as progenitors. The speaker proposed that targeting both the pathogenic effector cells and their progenitors may be necessary to better treat chronic asthma.

Keywords

CD4 T-cell memory

allergic disease

tissue-resident CD4 T cells

TCF1/TCF7-positive cells

Th2 cytokines

chronic asthma