The role of the T-cell receptor (TCR) in alpha beta/gamma delta lineage commitment: clues from intracellular TCR staining.
T cells belong to two mutually exclusive lineages expressing either alpha beta or gamma delta T-cell receptors (TCR). Although alpha beta and gamma delta cells are known to share a common precursor the role of TCR rearrangement and specificity in the lineage commitment process is controversial. Instructive lineage commitment models endow the alpha beta or gamma delta TCR with a deterministic role in lineage choice, whereas separate lineage models invoke TCR-independent lineage commitment followed by TCR-dependent selection and maturation of alpha beta and gamma delta cells. Here we review the published data pertaining to the role of the TCR in alpha beta/gamma delta lineage commitment and provide some additional information obtained from recent intracellular TCR staining studies. We conclude that a variant of the separate lineage model is best able to accommodate all of the available experimental results.
MacDonald
H R
HR
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland. HughRobson.MacDonald@isrec.unil.ch
Wilson
A
A
D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D008954:Models, Biological; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta