Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Directed Differentiation of Primitive and Definitive Hematopoietic Progenitors from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
14:37

Directed Differentiation of Primitive and Definitive Hematopoietic Progenitors from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: November 1, 2017

10.8K

Lymphocyte fate specification as a deterministic but highly plastic process

Steven L Reiner1, William C Adams1

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Department of Pediatrics at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 701 West 168th Street, HHSC 912, New York, New York 10032, USA.

Nature Reviews. Immunology
|September 6, 2014
PubMed

Insights

A single naive lymphocyte can generate diverse progeny for immune responses. This cellular diversity arises from fundamental developmental principles like asymmetric cell division, not just random processes.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Activated lymphocytes produce diverse cellular descendants crucial for immune function.
  • The mechanisms generating this progeny diversity are debated, with stochastic models proposed.

Approach:

  • Investigate lymphocyte progeny diversification using principles from developmental and regenerative biology.
  • Explore the role of asymmetric cell division in generating cellular diversity.

Key Points:

  • A single activated lymphocyte can yield varied cellular descendants.
  • Lymphocyte fate complexity in space and time can be explained by common cell diversification principles.
  • Asymmetric cell division is a proposed mechanism contributing to lymphocyte progeny diversity.

Conclusions:

  • The diversity of lymphocyte progeny can be explained by established developmental biology principles.
  • Asymmetric cell division offers a non-stochastic mechanism for generating lymphocyte functional diversity.

More Related Videos

Directed Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells towards T Lymphocytes12:47

Directed Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells towards T Lymphocytes

Published on: May 14, 2012

18.2K
Author Spotlight: Elucidating the Pathways of TFH Cell Differentiation in Acute LCMV Challenges05:03

Author Spotlight: Elucidating the Pathways of TFH Cell Differentiation in Acute LCMV Challenges

Published on: April 26, 2024

1.5K

Related Concept Videos

Lineage Commitment01:21

Lineage Commitment

Commitment is the  process whereby stem cells:
3.4K
Determination01:51

Determination

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...
16.3K
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response01:23

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
6.8K
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
14.3K
Cellular Differentiation00:57

Cellular Differentiation

How does a complex organism such as a human develop from a single cell? It all starts from a single fertilized egg which gives rise to a vast array of cell types, such as nerve cells, muscle cells, and epithelial cells that characterize the adult? Throughout development and adulthood, cellular differentiation leads cells to assume their final morphology and physiology. Differentiation is the process by which unspecialized cells become specialized to carry out distinct functions.
A zygote is a...
5.6K
Special Features of Adaptive Immunity01:20

Special Features of Adaptive Immunity

The adaptive immune system, a crucial component of the overall immune response, offers a highly specialized defense against pathogens. It involves specific cell types and features, enabling it to combat infections effectively and efficiently.
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...
3.6K