Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 1992 Feb;4(1):51-8.

Migration pathways and immunologic memory among T lymphocytes

Affiliations
  • PMID: 1534264
Review

Migration pathways and immunologic memory among T lymphocytes

C R Mackay. Semin Immunol. 1992 Feb.

Abstract

The lymphatic and circulatory systems are essential channels for the dissemination of memory cells throughout the body. However, the migration of naive and memory T cells through these channels is not random. Naive-type T cells preferentially migrate from blood to lymph nodes whereas memory T cells preferentially migrate to tissues, particularly those with a high exposure to antigen. The large-scaled migration of naive T cells through lymph nodes increases the likelihood of these T cells encountering a primary antigen, and brings them in contact with other players, particularly antigen presenting cells. On the other hand, the migration of memory T cells to tissues such as skin or gut mucosa serves to provide an immediate protection in an environment where antigen is likely to be re-encountered. The migration of memory T cells is further rationalized, in that phenotypically distinct subsets of memory T cells migrate to specific tissues. The migration of lymphocytes through the body is controlled by adhesion molecules on the surface of lymphocytes, which interact with receptors on the surface of endothelium, and it is the differential expression of these molecules which in part controls the different migration streams of T cells through the body.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

Cited by

Publication types