IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Functionally divergent resident memory T cells localize to lung and lymph node following influenza infection

Functionally divergent resident memory T cells localize to lung and lymph node following influenza infection

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker, a postdoc in Stephanie Sprenger’s lab at MIT, studies memory T cells after influenza infection. They explain that memory T cells are diverse, with different subsets defined by function and migration. In addition to circulating central and effector memory cells, tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) marked by CD69 and CD103 are found not only in barrier tissues like lung, but also in the lung-draining mediastinal lymph node.<br /><br />Using mouse influenza models and human lymph node data, they show TRM are abundant in lymph nodes, including across influenza strains and in human lymph nodes. These lymph node TRM are motile, broadly distributed, and can persist long-term. Compared with lung TRM, they have higher granzyme expression, fewer inhibitory receptors, and stronger cytotoxic and cytokine responses. Single-cell and chromatin analyses suggest distinct regulatory programs, including CREM-linked dysfunction in lung TRM. Functionally, lymph node TRM add to circulating memory cells and improve local killing during recall responses.

Meta Tag

Date April 18, 2026 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

Room 104AB

Session Regulating Adaptive Responses

Speaker Taylor Heim

Track Lymphocyte Differentiation and Peripheral Maintenance (LYM)

Year 2026

Keywords

memory T cells

tissue-resident memory T cells

influenza infection

mediastinal lymph node

TRM cytotoxicity

April 18, 2026 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

104AB

Regulating Adaptive Responses

Taylor Heim

Lymphocyte Differentiation and Peripheral Maintenance (LYM)

2026