Inherited maternal memory T cells protect offspring from respiratory viral infection through disease tolerance

Toure, H.; Jimena, B.; Caban, M. E.; Lederer, E. E.; Rico, D. M.; Medlin McFadden, A.; Abideen, S.; Kokati, P.; Harrington, W. E.; Koch, M. A.

doi:10.64898/2026.10.30.763208

bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.10.30.763208

Inherited maternal memory T cells protect offspring from respiratory viral infection through disease tolerance

Toure, H.·Jimena, B.·Caban, M. E.·Lederer, E. E.·Rico, D. M.·Medlin McFadden, A.·Abideen, S.·Kokati, P.·Harrington, W. E.·Koch, M. A.

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Abstract

Maternal immune transfer is a powerful mechanism for early-life protection from infection, yet the full repertoire of protective factors remains unknown. We discovered that maternal memory T cells are both necessary and sufficient to protect offspring from lethal respiratory infection. This antigen-specific protection operated independently of maternal antibodies and offspring T cell responses and required IL-10 produced by maternal T cells. Transfer of protective maternal T cells reduced offspring inflammatory responses and lung tissue damage without affecting viral burdens, indicating that maternal memory T cells directly suppress pathogenic innate inflammatory responses to preserve offspring health. Critically, maternal vaccination similarly protected offspring in a T cell-dependent manner. These findings reveal maternal antigen-specific T cell transfer as a complementary immunological defense mechanism to protect offspring against pathogens that escape maternal antibodies, with broad implications for maternal vaccination strategies.

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Toure, H., Jimena, B., Caban, M. E., Lederer, E. E., Rico, D. M., Medlin McFadden, A., Abideen, S., Kokati, P., Harrington, W. E., Koch, M. A.. 2026-11-03. Inherited maternal memory T cells protect offspring from respiratory viral infection through disease tolerance. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.30.763208

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