Modulating numbers and phenotype of CD8+ T cells in secondary immune responses

Prime-boost regimens are frequently used to increase the number of memory CD8(+) T cells and thus the protective capacity of experimental vaccinations; however, it is currently unknown how the frequency and phenotype of primary (1 degrees) memory CD8(+) T cells impact the quantity and phenotype of secondary (2 degrees) memory CD8(+) T-cell populations. Here, we show that 2 infections of mice that received different 1 degrees infections and/or immunizations generated similar numbers of 2 effector and memory CD8(+) T cells. Remarkably, this result was independent of the numbers and phenotype of 1 degrees memory CD8(+) T cells present at the time of rechallenge. However, after adoptive transfer of low numbers of 1 degrees memory CD8(+) T cells, a linear correlation between 1 degrees memory CD8(+) T-cell input and 2 degrees memory CD8(+) T-cell numbers was observed. These data suggest that, above a very low threshold, boosting of 1 degrees memory CD8(+) T-cell populations elicits 2 degrees immune responses of similar magnitude. Therefore, our study has important implications for the design of prime-boost regimens that aim to generate protective CD8(+) T-cell-mediated immunity.