title: T-cell development, doing it in a dish.
abstract: The thymus provides a unique environment for the development of T lymphocytes from bone marrow-derived progenitor cells. Several environmental factors have been identified that influence the development of T cells in the thymus. In particular, the Notch pathway has emerged as critical for the induction of T-lineage commitment and differentiation. Until recently, however, the precise nature of the thymus-derived signals that drive T-cell development were unclear, and the only reliable in vitro culture system that supported T-cell differentiation required the use of thymus organ cultures. Here, we discuss recent advances in the identification of critical Notch receptor ligands that have facilitated the development of a simple in vitro model for the differentiation of T cells 'in a dish', providing an alternate approach for studying T lymphopoiesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Sunnybrook and Women's Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zúñiga-Pflücker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002460:Cell Line; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002465:Cell Movement; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D038041:Lymphopoiesis; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C512941:DLK1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C064045:delta protein