次级淋巴组织靶向中心记忆T细胞(T(CM))以及外周组织靶向效应器记忆T细胞(T(EM))在移植物排斥反应中的作用依然未知。我们研究了是否T(EM)是移植物排斥反应中针对非淋巴样靶向抗原位点的主要亚型。我们研究了将CD8 T(CM)或T(EM)转移至野生型小鼠和缺少次级淋巴样组织的小鼠后皮肤移植物的排斥反应。我们发现CD8 T(CM)和T(EM)在发生排斥的野生型宿主的移植物中作用相当。但是，在发生排斥反应的无次级淋巴样组织的移植物中，CD8 T(EM)明显优于T(CM)。对于转移入移植物的效应器内最优分化来说，CD8 T(CM)相对于T(EM)更依赖于次级淋巴细胞。CD8 T(CM)或T(EM)的回归造成了移植物排斥反应后T(EM)的累积。这些发现提示CD8 T(CM)或T(EM)均能够介导移植物的排斥反应，但是T(EM)相比于T(CM)来说在包括移植器官的外周组织免疫监督中的作用更大。

The contribution of secondary lymphoid tissue-homing central memory T cells (T(CM)) and peripheral tissue-homing effector memory T cells (T(EM)) to allograft rejection is not known. We tested whether T(EM) is the principal subset responsible for allograft rejection due to the nonlymphoid location of target antigens. Skin allograft rejection was studied after transferring either CD8 T(CM) or T(EM) to wild-type mice and to mice that lack secondary lymphoid tissues. We found that CD8 T(CM) and T(EM) were equally effective at rejecting allografts in wild-type hosts. However, CD8 T(EM) were significantly better than T(CM) at rejecting allografts in the absence of secondary lymphoid tissues. CD8 T(CM) were dependent upon secondary lymphoid tissues more than T(EM) for optimal differentiation into effectors that migrate into the allograft. Recall of either CD8 T(CM) or T(EM) led to accumulation of T(EM) after allograft rejection. These findings indicate that either CD8 T(CM) or T(EM) mediate allograft rejection but T(EM) have an advantage over T(CM) in immune surveillance of peripheral tissues, including transplanted organs.