A transient tumoral challenge is sufficient to negatively im-print the generated memory CD8 T cells

The objective of this study is to compare the transcriptome of memory CD8 T cells generated following an acute viral infection (VV-CD8) or a transient tumoral challenge with a tumor that is eleminated by the immune system (EL4-CD8), in quiescent condition or following a brief in vitro stimulation with their cognate peptide. Naive CD8 T cells were used as control. Overall design: B6 mice were transferred with naive CD8 T cells from F5 transgenic mice. The next day, mice were challenge with vaccinia virus (VV) or EL4 tumor cells, both expressing NP68 peptide. CD45.1+ F5 memory cells were sorted from the spleens of VV- or EL4-immunised mice 9 weeks after the primary challenge. Naive F5 cells were sorted from the spleen of F5 x CD45.1 mice. Enriched CD8 T cells were stimulated (VV-CD8_R, EL4-CD8_R, naive_R) or not (VV-CD8, EL4-CD8, Naive) with NP68 peptide (10 nM) for 2h at 37 °C.