TCR stimulation without co-stimulatory signals induces expression of "tolerogenic" genes in memory CD4 T cells but does not compromise cell proliferation.

•Anti-CD3 mAb stimulation without co-stimulation induces elevated expression of tolerogenic genes, Egr2 and GRAIL, in memory CD4+ T cells.•The high-level expression of Egr2 and GRAIL in memory CD4+ T cells does not abrogate cell proliferation.•Anti-CD3 mAb-stimulated memory CD4+ T cells also expressed high protein/gene levels of phosphorylated STAT5, Nedd4, Bcl-2, and Bcl-XL.•Co-stimulation-independent proliferation of memory CD4+ T cells may be due to elevated expression of molecules that support cell proliferation and survival, but not lack of tolerogenic molecules.