Fig. 4.
A) Hypothesis on the models of T cell differentiation. a. Linear model: the data of this study would imply a tendency of the effector/memory precursor cells to differentiate into TCM. b. Self-renewal model: the data of this study would imply an excessive self-renewal of the TCM at the expense of the TEM. B) Hypothesis on influencing factors of T memory cell apportioning. High levels of IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-12 are critical for memory T cell development, during early TCR engagement. Increased levels of TCR affinity and T cell precursor frequencies favor TCM development, while decreased levels favor TEM. Abbreviations: APC Antigen Presenting Cell; TCR, T Cell Receptor; TCM, T central memory; TEMRA, terminally differentiated effector memory; TEM, effector memory; IL-2, Interleukin-2; IFN-γ, Interferon-γ; IL-12, Interleukin-12. Figure adjusted from (Raphael et al., 2020) in BioRender.com.