Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
14:29
Examination of Thymic Positive and Negative Selection by Flow Cytometry
Published on: October 8, 2012
Intrathymic delta selection events in gammadelta cell development
L Passoni1, E S Hoffman, S Kim
1Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA.
Immunity
|July 1, 1997
Summary
T cell receptor (TCR) delta selection guides gammadelta T cell development, differing from beta selection by involving the gamma chain and promoting differentiation over proliferation. This clarifies early T cell development and cell fate determination models.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- T cell receptor (TCR) delta locus rearrangements are crucial for gammadelta T cell development.
- Delta selection occurs concurrently with TCR beta selection during thymocyte development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of gammadelta T cell development.
- To compare delta selection with beta selection in T cell development.
- To understand the role of the gamma chain in delta selection.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of T cell receptor (TCR) delta locus rearrangements.
- Investigation of thymocyte development and selection processes.
- Assessment of gammadelta T cell differentiation and proliferation.
Main Results:
- Delta selection primarily involves the gamma chain, suggesting no significant "preTgamma" chain.
- Most gammadelta-selected thymocytes differentiate, unlike the proliferative response in alphabeta T cell development.
- Some delta selection events promote thymocyte expansion, with variable gamma chain influence based on developmental age.
Conclusions:
- Delta selection is a distinct process from beta selection, with unique characteristics regarding gamma chain involvement and cell fate outcomes.
- The findings refine models of early T cell development and cell fate determination at the beta/delta selection stage.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Determination
During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...
01:16Primary Lymphoid Organs
Primary lymphoid organs are pivotal in the formation, development, and maturation of lymphocytes, the white blood cells that serve as the backbone of our immune system. This crucial function underscores their fundamental role in maintaining our overall health and immunity. The two primary lymphoid organs of prime importance are the red bone marrow and the thymus.
The red bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue nestled in the interior of long bones such as the humerus and femur. It is the site...
The red bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue nestled in the interior of long bones such as the humerus and femur. It is the site...
01:22T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...