Does anybody know whether effector or memory T cells can de-differentiate into naive T cells, rather than just become exhausted or undergo apoptosis? Thanks
Naive T cells differentiate into effector T cells immediately after activation, with dedifferentiation into memory cells occurring after pathogen clearance. Please refer to the article attached below for more information.
Article Effector CD8 T cells dedifferentiate into long-lived memory cells
The dedifferentiation of lineage-restricted cells rarely occurs in nature.
The process of dedifferentiation is often seen in lower life forms such as worms and amphibians as a regenerative mechanism.