title: T Cell Development by the Numbers.
abstract: T cells are continually generated in the thymus in a highly dynamic process comprising discrete steps of lineage commitment, T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement, and selection. These steps are linked to distinct rates of proliferation, survival, and cell death, but a quantitative picture of T cell development is only beginning to emerge. Here we summarize recent technical advances, including genetic fate mapping, barcoding, and molecular timers, that have allowed the implementation of computational models to quantify developmental dynamics in the thymus. Coupling new techniques with mathematical models has recently resulted in the emergence of new paradigms in early hematopoiesis and might similarly open new perspectives on T cell development.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Electronic address: andreas.krueger@kgu.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.affiliation: Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University, 80337 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ziętara
authors.affiliation: Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University, 80337 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Łyszkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D054504:Precursor Cells, T-Lymphoid / Q000502:physiology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
keywords: T cells; computational modeling; progenitors; quantitative biology; thymus