Generation of pro-T cells in vitro: potential for immune reconstitution.
Immunodeficient individuals are susceptible to opportunistic infection. While stem cell transplantation can restore a functional immune system, T cells are slow to recover and limited in eliciting adaptive immune responses. Approaches to selectively enhance T cell function have focused on boosting thymopoiesis to generate new T cells or expanding existing T cells. By taking advantage of the role of Notch signaling in T cell development, we have developed an in vitro system able to generate large numbers of progenitor T cells from human hematopoietic stem cells. Here, we discuss this in vitro system and its implications for the potential treatment of T cell immunodeficiency.
Awong
Génève
G
Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada.
La Motte-Mohs
Ross N
RN
Zúñiga-Pflücker
Juan Carlos
JC
D018920:Coculture Techniques; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D038041:Lymphopoiesis; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D051880:Receptors, Notch