title: Development of murine pre-T cells into gamma delta T-cell receptor bearing cells.
abstract: Murine T cells bearing the gamma delta T-cell receptor (gamma delta TCR) are the major lymphocyte subset in the thymus early in fetal development, and postnatally they are the major population of T cells in the epithelia of nonlymphoid tissues including the intestine, skin, tongue, lung, and reproductive organs. The site of origin of gamma delta T-cell precursors (pre-T cells) changes during fetal development, reflecting the sites of active hematopoiesis. In addition, the pattern of expression of specific gamma delta TCR variable (V) region genes changes during fetal and neonatal development, and is unique in different epithelial tissues postnatally. We herein review the literature describing these developmental changes and provide a model for the developmental pathways of murine gamma delta T cells.
authors.affiliation: Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Balasubramaniam
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Appasamy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D051379:Mice; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta