Lymphocyte population kinetics in the mouse.
In a normal dynamic equilibrium, at least half of the peripheral T-cell pool is constituted by lymphocytes which have divided 24-48 h previously, and are therefore rapidly renewed. The renewal of peripheral T cells occurs partly by influx of cells from the thymus and, more importantly, by cell division at the periphery. The cyclic pattern of decay observed for T cells after HU treatment suggests the presence of progenitor-descendent relationships within the peripheral T-cell pool. Peripheral progenitors must contain both cycling and non-cycling cells to account for cell recovery after HU administration in ATx mice. T-cell production at the periphery involves both organized (spleen or lymph nodes) as well as non-organized lymphoid tissue (GALT). The latter may in fact provide the major contribution. Expansion of mature T lymphocytes contributes to clonal persistence at the periphery and to the choice of T-cell repertoires. The importance of post-thymic selection of T-cell repertoires is suggested by the considerable expansion potential revealed by peripheral T cells.
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002455:Cell Division; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007700:Kinetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology