NK cells share a universal signature of memory with B and T cells in mice and humans 3891

Isaac J. Jensen; Daniel P. Caron; Steven Wells; Samantha N. Jensen; Tamara Kucaba; Elizabeth Escue; Gregory F. Sonnenberg; Thomas S. Griffith; Vladimir P. Badovinac; Donna L. Farber

doi:10.1093/jimmun/vkaf283.1638

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NK cells share a universal signature of memory with B and T cells in mice and humans 3891

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NK cells share a universal signature of memory with B and T cells in mice and humans 3891

Isaac J. Jensen, Daniel P. Caron, Steven Wells, Samantha N. Jensen, Tamara Kucaba, Elizabeth Escue, Gregory F. Sonnenberg, Thomas S. Griffith, Vladimir P. Badovinac and Donna L. Farber

The Journal of immunology (1950), Vol.214(Supplement_1), vkaf2831638

11/01/2025

DOI: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf283.1638

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Abstract

Abstract Description NK cells, like B and T cells, acquire immune memory; however, our understanding of memory NK cells is primarily limited to specific subsets generated during CMV infection and lacks generalized memory markers. We hypothesized a universal memory signature exists across B, T, and NK cells; thus, we performed whole transcriptional profiling of B, CD4 T, CD8 T, and NK cells over the course of MCMV infection. Indeed, a shared transcriptional signature delineated naïve and memory cells across all lymphocyte populations; including CD55 (DAF, decay accelerating factor), the ectonucleotidase CD39, and the transcription factor Aiolos which were all validated by flow cytometry. As such, naïve cells are CD55hiCD39-Aioloshi and memory are any other combination thereof. The capacity of these markers to delineate memory cells extended to multiple other infectious scenarios and were recapitulated in human memory B and T cells. Single cell transcriptional analysis of human lymphocytes also demonstrated functional distinction between naïve and memory cells. To solidify this memory signature for NK cells, we performed in vitro stimulation and observed upregulation of cytolytic effectors only in memory NK cells. Notably, naïve and memory NK cells exhibit distinct localization throughout the human body. These findings establish a core signature, conserved across cell lineage and species, for identifying memory broadly and provides a foundation for designing strategies to modulate immune memory. Funding Sources NIH AI168634, AI128949, T32AI148099 Topic Categories Viral Immunology (VIR)

Animals - Human Cells - B Cells Natural Killer Cells T Cells Processes - Memory

Details

Title: Subtitle: NK cells share a universal signature of memory with B and T cells in mice and humans 3891
Creators: Isaac J. Jensen - Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Daniel P. Caron - Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Steven Wells - Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Samantha N. Jensen - Weill Cornell Medicine
Tamara Kucaba - University of Minnesota
Elizabeth Escue
Gregory F. Sonnenberg - Weill Cornell Medicine
Thomas S. Griffith - University of Minnesota
Vladimir P. Badovinac - University of Iowa
Donna L. Farber - Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Resource Type: Abstract
Publication Details: The Journal of immunology (1950), Vol.214(Supplement_1), vkaf2831638
DOI: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf283.1638
ISSN: 0022-1767
eISSN: 1550-6606
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Grant note: NIH: AI168634, AI128949, T32AI148099
NIH AI168634, AI128949, T32AI148099
Alternative title: IMMUNOLOGY2025™ Abstracts
Language: English
Date published: 11/01/2025
Academic Unit: Pathology
Record Identifier: 9985035032802771

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