title: Normal T cell homeostasis: the conversion of naive cells into memory-phenotype cells.
abstract: Weak T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signals from contact with self ligands act in synergy with antiapoptotic signals induced by interleukin 7 (IL-7) to promote the survival of naive T cells in a resting state. The amount of background TCR signaling in naive T cells is set by post-thymic TCR tuning and operates at an intensity just below that required to induce entry into the cell cycle. Costimulation from higher concentrations of IL-7 and other common γ-chain cytokines can induce T cells to undergo homeostatic proliferation and conversion into cells with a memory phenotype; many of these memory phenotype cells may be the progeny of cells responding to self antigens. The molecular mechanisms that control the conversion of naive resting T cells into memory-phenotype cells TCR-dependent in normal animals are beginning to be understood.
authors: Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. j.sprent@garvan.org.au
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Sprent
authors: Charles D
authors: CD
authors: Surh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015851:Interleukin-7; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell