Thymocyte lineage commitment: is it instructed or stochastic?
Thymocytes co-expressing the CD4 and CD8 co-receptors differentiate into mature T cells that express either CD4 or CD8 and have helper or cytotoxic functions, respectively. Recent studies indicate that commitment to the CD4+ or CD8+ lineages occurs stochastically, but retention of the appropriate co-receptor is required to complete development.
Davis
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Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0414.
Littman
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DR
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck); D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development
D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019860:Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck)