Scribd
Upload
38 views10 pages

5.2 T Cell Development and Maturation

T-cell development begins with haematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, which develop into pre-T lymphocytes that migrate to the thymus for maturation. In the thymus, thymocytes proliferate and differentiate through various stages defined by CD4 and CD8 co-receptor expression, progressing from double-negative to double-positive stages. The maturation process involves TCR gene rearrangement and selection processes that lead to the formation of functionally distinct mature T cells.

Uploaded by

vorapallavi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
38 views10 pages

5.2 T Cell Development and Maturation

T-cell development begins with haematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, which develop into pre-T lymphocytes that migrate to the thymus for maturation. In the thymus, thymocytes proliferate and differentiate through various stages defined by CD4 and CD8 co-receptor expression, progressing from double-negative to double-positive stages. The maturation process involves TCR gene rearrangement and selection processes that lead to the formation of functionally distinct mature T cells.

Uploaded by

vorapallavi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 10

T-cell development

& maturation

Dr. Ashish Kumar Singh 23


T-cell development
 The T lymphocytes are derived from
haematopoietic stem cells of bone marrow.

 The lymphocyte progenitor cells develop into


pre-T lymphocytes.

 The pre-T lymphocytes leave the bone marrow


and enter the thymus for maturation.

Dr. Ashish Kumar Singh 24


Dr. Ashish Kumar Singh 25
T-cell development & maturation
 T-cell travel from the bone marrow through the
blood to the thymus under the influence of
chemotactic factors that are secreted by the
thymic epithelial cells.
 In the thymus T cell known as thymocytes,
 In thymus T cells proliferates and differentiate
along the development pathways that generate
functionally distinct subpopulation of mature T
cells.
 T cell maturation in the thymus is a complex
multistep process.

Dr. Ashish Kumar Singh 26


T-cell development & maturation
 Stages of development can be defined broadly
by the expression of the co-receptor CD4 and
CD8.
 The most immuature thymocytes express
neither coreceptor and are referred to as CD4-
CD8- (double –negative DN) stage.

 The progress to the CD4+ CD8+ (double –


positive DP) stage, which in turn to the
CD4+CD8- or CD4- CD8+ (single positive or
SP) stage.

Dr. Ashish Kumar Singh 27


T-cell development & maturation
 Double Negative progress through four stage of
development (DN1-DN4) based on the presence
or absence of cell surface molecules
 c-Kit (CD117), the receptor for stem cell
growth factor
 CD44, an adhesion molecule
 CD25, the α chain of the IL-2 receptor.
 During the development process, they begin to
rearrange their T cell receptor (TCR) gene
loci.

Dr. Ashish Kumar Singh 28


Dr. Ashish Kumar Singh 29
T-cell development & maturation
 DN1 stage:
 TCR gene present in germ line (donot express
TCR)
 DN2 stage:
 The gene for the TCR γ, δ, and β chain begin to
rearrange.
 DN3:
 Rearrangement continued
 Decision has been taken in t-cell development
whether to join the TCRγδ or TCRαβ T cell
lineage
 DN4:
 Rearrangement of TCRα chain gene completed
Dr. Ashish Kumar Singh 30
Dr. Ashish Kumar Singh 31
T-cell development & maturation
 During the transition between the DN4 and DP
stage:
 Expression of TCRαβ heterodimer occurs in
the CD4+ CD8+ double positive cells.
 Double positive cells will under negative and
positive thymic selection in thymic cortex.
 DP cells under that successfully undergo
selection go on to mature CD4+ or CD8+ T
cell, which are single positive SP cells.
 Small population of DP cells give rise to other
T cells including NKT cells and regulatory T
cell.
Dr. Ashish Kumar Singh 32

You might also like