Microenvironmental regulation of T cell development in the thymus.
T cell development in the thymus occurs through a series of events beginning with thymic colonization by migrant precursors and ending with the emigration of functionally competent CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to the periphery. It is well accepted that signals through the pre-T cell receptor (pre-TCR) and alpha-beta TCR (alphabetaTCR) complex play pivotal roles in the maturation of CD4-8- and CD4+8+ thymocytes, respectively. It is clear that stromal cells constituting the thymic microenvironment provide non-TCR-mediated interactions which are essential for several developmental events. Examples of such will be discussed here in relation to early and late events in T cell development.
Anderson
G
G
Department of Anatomy, MRC Centre for Immune Regulation Medical School, University of Birmingham, UK. g.anderson@bham.ac.uk
Harman
B C
BC
Hare
K J
KJ
Jenkinson
E J
EJ
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002465:Cell Movement; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017154:Stromal Cells; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D051880:Receptors, Notch