Molecular and cellular mechanisms of T cell development.
The thymus is central to the establishment of a functioning immune system. Here is the place where T cells mature from hematopoietic progenitors, driven by mutual interactions of stromal cells and the developing thymocytes. As a result, different types of T cells are generated, all of which have been carefully selected for the ability to act in host defense towards non-self and against the potential to mount pathogenic self-reactive autoimmune responses. In this review we summarize our present knowledge on the lineage decisions taking place during this development, the selection processes responsible for shaping the T cell antigen-receptor repertoire, the interactions with the stromal components and the signal transduction pathways which transform the interactions with the thymic microenvironment into cellular responses of survival, proliferation, differentiation and, importantly, also of cell death.
Bommhardt
U
U
Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Versbacher Strasse 7, 97078 Würzburg, Germany.
Beyer
M
M
Hünig
T
T
Reichardt
H M
HM
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D015703:Antigens, CD; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D051880:Receptors, Notch; C402726:Sh2d2a protein, mouse; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases