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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Isolation and Th17 Differentiation of Naïve CD4 T Lymphocytes
Published on: September 26, 2013
The role of cytokines in lymphocyte homeostasis
Annette R Khaled1, Scott K Durum
1Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA.
Abstract:
The size of lymphocyte populations is regulated by replication and death. Cytokines produced by non-lymphoid cells provide key survival and replication signals for several lymphocyte subpopulations. The availability of these cytokines thus serves as a homeostatic regulatory mechanism by determining the upper limit of the population size. IL-7 is required for survival of naive CD4+ and CD8+ cells and memory CD8+ cells. IL-15 is required for survival of memory CD8+ cells. IL-12 and IL-4 also promote memory CD8+ survivaL BAFF is required for survival of mature B cells. Antigen receptor signals, together with these cytokine signals, are required for survival of mature B cells and naive T cells. The list of extracellular survival signals for lymphocytes remains incomplete, and the intracellular pathways leading to survival are poorly understood.
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