In vivo roles of receptor tyrosine kinases and cytokine receptors in early thymocyte development

JP Di Santo, HR Rodewald - Current opinion in immunology, 1998 - Elsevier
JP Di Santo, HR Rodewald
Current opinion in immunology, 1998Elsevier
The early phases of T-cell development require both cell—cell interactions and soluble
factors provided by stromal cells within the thymic microenvironment. Still, the precise nature
of the signals delivered in vivo by cytokines (resulting in survival, proliferation or
differentiation) remains unclear. Recent studies using mice deficient in cytokines or in their
receptors have helped to identify essential signaling pathways required for the development
of intrathymic precursors to mature αβ and γβ T cells. In addition, cytokine requirements for …
The early phases of T-cell development require both cell—cell interactions and soluble factors provided by stromal cells within the thymic microenvironment. Still, the precise nature of the signals delivered in vivo by cytokines (resulting in survival, proliferation or differentiation) remains unclear. Recent studies using mice deficient in cytokines or in their receptors have helped to identify essential signaling pathways required for the development of intrathymic precursors to mature αβ and γβ T cells. In addition, cytokine requirements for the development of natural killer cells were revealed in such mutants. The results obtained demonstrate that the development of all classes of lymphocytes (natural killer, γδ T cells and αβ T cells) is cytokine dependent, but the specific requirements differ for each lineage.
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