The extrathymic T-cell development pathway.
In normal mice, not all T-lineage cells are generated and selected in the thymus; an alternative, extrathymic, development pathway exists. Extrathymic T cells are rare in the spleen and lymph nodes, but are abundant in some tissues, such as the gut. Here, Benedita Rocha, Pierre Vassalli and Delphine Guy-Grand discuss the rules of selection of extrathymic T cells, assess the possible role of these cells in the defence of epithelial integrity and their potential role in autoimmune disease.
Rocha
B
B
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.
Vassalli
P
P
Guy-Grand
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice / Q000276:immunology; D008819:Mice, Nude / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological; D051381:Rats; D011923:Rats, Nude / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell