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T cell precursors in man and mice
1Division of Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Huis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Critical Reviews in Immunology
|August 15, 1998
Summary
Hematopoietic progenitor cells seed the thymus and differentiate into T cells through distinct stages. This study compares early T cell development in mice and humans, exploring governing factors like interleukin-7 and transcription factors.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The thymus is crucial for T cell development, receiving hematopoietic progenitor cells from the liver and bone marrow.
- Early T cell development involves progenitor cells traversing distinct cellular stages.
- Recent advancements allow detailed comparison of T cell development in mice and humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare early cellular stages of T cell development in mice and humans.
- To discuss factors influencing T cell differentiation, including cytokines and transcription factors.
- To review current data on interleukin-7 and transcription factor involvement in T cell development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of cell surface and cytoplasmic markers.
- Assessment of T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements.
- Measurement of T cell precursor activity in human progenitor cell subsets.
Main Results:
- Detailed description of early T cell development stages in the mouse thymus.
- Accumulation of data on early human thymic development through new assays.
- Identification of distinct cellular stages based on markers, gene rearrangements, and precursor activity.
Conclusions:
- Early T cell development stages are conserved between mice and humans.
- Interleukin-7 and transcription factors play significant roles in T cell differentiation.
- Further research can elucidate extrinsic and intrinsic factors governing T cell development.