T-sing progenitors to commit.
T-cell development in the thymus is a complex and highly regulated process. During the process of differentiation from multipotent progenitor cells to mature T cells, proliferation, restriction of lineage potential, TCR gene rearrangements and selection events occur, all accompanied by changes in gene expression. A comprehensive understanding of thymocyte differentiation remains to be established. Two related, key issues have received much attention recently: the nature of the thymus seeding cell and the regulation of T-cell lineage commitment. Here we review the perspectives of different researchers working both on murine and human T-cell development and argue that a true T-cell commitment factor might not be required because of the unique properties of the thymus.
Weerkamp
Floor
F
Department of Immunology, Erasmus Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Pike-Overzet
Karin
K
Staal
Frank J T
FJ
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D038041:Lymphopoiesis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*