Lymphocyte proliferation in immune-mediated diseases.
Defects in T cell homeostatic mechanisms can result in T cell lymphopenia, defined as decreased numbers of lymphocytes. Lymphopenia results in homeostatic proliferation in order to maintain T cell homeostasis. It has been proposed that homeostatic proliferation can expand the pool of autoreactive T cells that promote autoimmunity, and indeed recent studies have further substantiated this observation in both animal models and humans. Conversely, homeostatic proliferation can promote tumor immunity by allowing tumor-specific T cells to accumulate. In this review, we discuss how the outcome of homeostatic proliferation can function both in a deleterious manner in autoimmunity and a beneficial way in tumor immunity. We also discuss the roles of various cytokines and T regulatory cells that control homeostatic proliferation.
Datta
Shrimati
S
Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States.
Sarvetnick
Nora
N
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D016207:Cytokines