CD8⁺ tissue-resident memory T cells (T_RM) persist at sites of previous infection, where they provide rapid local protection against pathogen challenge. CD8⁺ T_RM expressing the α1 chain (CD49a) of integrin VLA-1 have been identified within sites of resolved skin infection and in vitiligo lesions. We demonstrate that CD49a is expressed early following T cell activation in vivo, and TGF-β and IL-12 induce CD49a expression by CD8⁺ T cells in vitro. Despite this rapid expression, CD49a is not required for the generation of a primary CD8⁺ T cell response to cutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, migration of CD8⁺ T cells across the epidermal basement membrane, or positioning of T_RM within basal epidermis. Rather, CD49a supports CD8⁺ T_RM persistence within skin, regulates epidermal CD8⁺ T_RM dendritic extensions, and increases the frequency of IFN-γ⁺ CD8⁺ T_RM following local antigen challenge. Our results suggest that CD49a promotes optimal cutaneous CD8⁺ T_RM-mediated immunity.

CD8 ⁺组织驻留性记忆T细胞（T _RM）持续存在于先前感染的部位，在那里它们提供了针对病原体攻击的快速局部保护。已经在解决的皮肤感染部位和白癜风病变中鉴定出表达整联蛋白VLA-1的α1链（CD49a）的CD8 ⁺ T _RM。我们证明CD49a在体内T细胞活化后早期表达，TGF-β和IL-12诱导CD8 ⁺ T细胞在体外表达CD49a 。尽管这种快速表达，但对于皮肤单纯疱疹病毒（HSV）感染，CD8 ⁺迁移的原代CD8 ⁺ T细胞应答的生成并不需要CD49aT细胞穿过表皮基底膜，或T _RM位于基底表皮内。相反，CD49A支持CD8 ⁺ Ť _RM皮肤内的持久性，表皮的调节作用CD8 ⁺ Ť _RM树枝状扩展，并增加IFN-γ的频率⁺ CD8 ⁺ Ť _RM以下本地抗原挑战。我们的结果表明，CD49a可促进最佳的皮肤CD8 ⁺ T _RM介导的免疫。