title: Mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in T-cell homeostasis.
abstract: T-cell homeostasis is maintained by balancing the proliferation and destruction of lymphocytes at multiple steps during the life of an individual. Regulated mitochondria-dependent apoptosis is essential for both the development and the subsequent maintenance of the immune system, in that it keeps the total number of lymphocytes constant. Firstly, during thymic development, sequential stages of T-cell maturation require strict control of T-cell selection, and secondly, apoptosis is essential in controlling the massive expansion of antigen-specific T-cells after their activation. Failure in each of these steps can lead to pathologies, while drugs that target apoptosis could have therapeutic benefit.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire 'Infections Rétrovirales et Signalisation Cellulaire, CNRS UMR 5121, Institut de Biologie, 4 Bd Henri IV, CS 89508, 34960 Montpellier 2, France.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Denizot
authors.forename: Lucile
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Espert
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Robert-Hebmann
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biard-Piechaczyk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D001549:Benzamides; D017637:Clonal Deletion; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate