Circulating KLRG1+ long-lived effector memory T cells retain the flexibility to become tissue resident

Abstract

KLRG1⁺ CD8 T cells persist for months after clearance of acute infections and maintain high levels of effector molecules, contributing protective immunity against systemic pathogens. Upon secondary infection, these long-lived effector cells (LLECs) are incapable of forming other circulating KLRG1⁻ memory subsets such as central and effector memory T cells. Thus, KLRG1⁺ memory T cells are frequently referred to as a terminally differentiated population that is relatively short lived. Here, we show that after viral infection of mice, effector cells derived from LLECs rapidly enter nonlymphoid tissues and reduce pathogen burden but are largely dependent on receiving antigen cues from vascular endothelial cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals that secondary memory cells in nonlymphoid tissues arising from either KLRG1⁺ or KLRG1⁻ memory precursors develop a similar resident memory transcriptional signature. Thus, although LLECs cannot differentiate into other circulating memory populations, they still retain the flexibility to enter tissues and establish residency.