Thymic emigration revisited.

ABSTRACT: Conventional alphabeta T cell precursors undergo positive selection in the thymic cortex. When this is successful, they migrate to the medulla and are exposed to tissue-specific antigens (TSA) for purposes of central tolerance, and they undergo maturation to become functionally responsive T cells. It is commonly understood that thymocytes spend up to 2 wk in the medulla undergoing these final maturation steps before emigrating to peripheral lymphoid tissues. In addition, emigration is thought to occur via a stochastic mechanism whereby some progenitors leave early and others leave late-a so-called "lucky dip" process. However, recent research has revealed that medullary thymocytes are a heterogeneous mix of naive alphabeta T cell precursors, memory T cells, natural killer T cells, and regu

SUBMITTER: McCaughtry TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2118501 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature