Central memory T cells: stem-like biology, pathogenic roles in autoimmunity, and therapeutic applications - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #Cell Therapy
- #Autoimmunity
- #Immunology
- Central memory T (TCM) cells are a long-lived, self-renewing stem-like population crucial for durable immunological protection.
- TCM cells reside in secondary lymphoid organs and exhibit robust proliferative potential, multipotent differentiation, and reliance on oxidative phosphorylation.
- Recent research highlights transcription factor networks and epigenetic modifications that maintain TCM stemness.
- TCM cells play a dual role: aiding immune responses against infections/cancer but also contributing to chronic inflammation in autoimmune diseases like lupus and multiple sclerosis.
- Clinically, TCM cells are important for CAR-T therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy, and vaccine effectiveness.
- This review explores TCM biology, disease roles, and therapeutic applications in cancer, autoimmunity, and cellular therapies.