title: Unraveling the origin of lymphocyte progenitors.
abstract: Lymphocytes are ultimately derived from hematopoietic stem cells, however the intervening steps that give rise to lymphocyte progenitors are still under intense investigation. In particular, whether a common lymphocyte progenitor serves exclusively as a lymphoid precursor, or whether this cell retains limited myeloid progenitor potential are addressed by Rolink and colleagues. This issue is highlighted by their identification within the bone marrow of early progenitors with lymphoid and myeloid developmental potential or EPLMs. How these cells fit into our current understanding of lymphocyte development, and how this new subset helps to further refine our view of the common lymphocyte progenitor are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Sunnybrook & Women's Research Institute, Toronto, Canada. jczp@swri.ca
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zúñiga-Pflücker
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Schmitt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*