Extrathymic differentiation of intraepithelial lymphocytes: generation of a separate and unequal T-cell repertoire?
A significant number of intraepithelial intestinal T cells appear to mature extrathymically. In this paper, Leo Lefrançois discusses the implication of this for T-cell receptor selection and repertoire generation. He goes on to develop the concept that such cells may constitute discrete subsets of organ-specific lymphocytes, with unique T-cell receptor repertoires that may be evolutionary antecedents of thymus-derived T cells.
Lefrançois
L
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Dept of Cell Biology, Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, MI 49001.
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude / Q000276:immunology; D011828:Radiation Chimera; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell