title: Lifespan of lymphocytes.
abstract: T and B lymphocytes comprise heterogeneous populations of cells at various stages of differentiation and activation. T- and B-cell subsets have different roles in the maintenance of immune homeostasis, and their functional differences are reflected by their respective lifespans. This review briefly summarizes the available data on lymphocyte lifespan, including the kinetics of T- and B-cell development in the primary lymphoid organs and the proliferative behavior of naive, effector and memory lymphocytes in the peripheral lymphoid compartment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, IMM4, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Tough
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sprent
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology