title: Staying alive--naïve CD4(+) T cell homeostasis.
abstract: The immune system must maintain a broad repertoire of naïve T cells in order to respond to the diverse range of pathogens that it will encounter over the course of a lifetime. Although it is known that contact with IL-7 is crucial for the survival of naïve T cells, the precise intracellular signals that mediate its effects remain obscure. An article in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology has found that IL-7 requires the coordinated action of multiple pathways to maintain naïve CD4(+) T cells.
authors.affiliation: Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Jared F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Purton
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sprent
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Surh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines