CD8 T lymphocytes deploy embryonic cell cycle control mechanisms for rapid cell proliferation

Rapid proliferation of CD8 T cells is crucial for adaptive immunity against viral infection. CD8 T cells can complete division cycles in less than 6 hours, representing a physiological extreme for somatic mammalian cells. Embryonic stem cells utilize specialized cell cycle control mechanisms, including subdued periodic expression, for rapid cell division cycles. CD8 T cell cycle control remains poorly understood. Here, we test whether CD8 T cells utilize embryonic mechanisms to promote rapid cell cycles. We comprehensively measure protein abundances in G1, S and G2&M phases in three murine cell types: CD8 T cells, embryonic stem cells and fibroblasts. We discover striking similarities between mESC and CD8 T cells. We demonstrate that CD8 T cells express Cyclin E1 and Emi1/Fbxo5 at high levels to promote S-phase entry. Interestingly, CD8 T cells and mESCs differ in the frequency of G2&M phase cells, the abundance of DNA replication origin licensing and initiation factors, and the abundance of APC/C substrates. Thus, somatic T cells have both unique and shared cell cycle control mechanisms to promote rapid cell cycles.

David Lewis, Ananya Kar, Alice Savage, Van Kelly, David Wright, Devin Tan, Mary Tozer, Christina, Margaret Rollings, Doreen A. Cantrell, Rose Zamoyska & Tony Ly (2026). CD8 T lymphocytes deploy embryonic cell cycle control mechanisms for rapid cell proliferation. BioStudies, S-SCDT-10_1038-S44319-026-00830-4. Retrieved from https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/sourcedata/studies/S-SCDT-10_1038-S44319-026-00830-4