Aspects of early lymphoid commitment.
In the past year, significant progress has been realized in understanding the molecular underpinnings of commitment to the lymphoid pathways of differentiation. Several new approaches of phenotypic identification have revealed early stages of lymphoid commitment, and recent new studies have provided additional information regarding the central role of Notch receptors and their ligands and modulators as important regulators of the T/B lineage decision. The identification of PU.1 as a transcriptional regulator of the interleukin-7 receptor has established one mechanism by which PU.1 regulates lymphoid development. Finally, two studies have provided insight into the mechanisms of thymic selection. Still to be resolved, however, is the question of whether the T lineage is specified in bone marrow or only after migration of multipotent progenitors to the thymus.
Wang
Hongfang
H
Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132-2408, USA.
Spangrude
Gerald J
GJ
D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D015398:Signal Transduction