Pathogenic role of tissue-resident memory T cells in autoimmune diseases.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review summarizing mechanism-based biology with no primary clinical or systematic data
PubMed 30005862 · doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2018.03.014
What was done
This narrative review summarizes published literature on the biology of tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells, including their newly identified phenotypic markers, upstream regulators, protective functions, and contributions to autoimmune pathology.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data or effect sizes. It describes TRM cells as non-circulating memory T cells persisting long-term in barrier tissues (skin, lung, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive tract) and non-barrier tissues (brain, kidney, pancreas, joint) that are transcriptionally, functionally, and phenotypically distinct from circulating effector memory T cells. The authors report that autoreactive or aberrantly activated TRM cells contribute to autoimmune disorders such as psoriasis, vitiligo, autoimmune hepatitis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Why it matters
Understanding the tissue-specific persistence and pathogenic activation of TRM cells provides potential targets for localized therapeutic strategies in autoimmune diseases rather than relying solely on systemic immunosuppression.
Limits
As a narrative review, the paper does not use systematic review methodology or report primary data. No sample sizes, patient populations, or specific effect sizes are reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Tissue-resident T cells permanently reside within specific tissues to provide localized protection rather than circulating continuously through blood and lymphatics.