Journal
NATURE REVIEWS IMMUNOLOGY
Volume 2, Issue 5, Pages 309-322Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/nri798
Keywords
-
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Cell-fate decisions are controlled typically by conserved receptors that interact with co-evolved ligands. Therefore, the lineage-specific differentiation of immature CD4(+)CD8(+) T cells into CD4(+) or CD8(+) mature T cells is unusual in that it is regulated by clonally expressed, somatically generated T-cell receptors (TCRs) of unpredictable fine specificity. Yet, each mature T cell generally retains expression of the co-receptor molecule (CD4 or CD8) that has an MHC-binding property that matches that of its TCR. Two models were proposed initially to explain this remarkable outcome - 'instruction' of lineage choice by initial signalling events or `selection' after a stochastic fate decision that limits further development to cells with coordinated TCR and co-receptor specificities. Aspects of both models now appear to be correct; mistake-prone instruction of lineage choice precedes a subsequent selection step that filters out most incorrect decisions.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available