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Back to the thymus: peripheral T cells come home
Author(s) -
Hale J Scott,
Fink Pamela J
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1038/icb.2008.87
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , biology , t cell , immunology , progenitor cell , immune system , t lymphocyte , apposition , stem cell , anatomy
The thymus has long been known as the generative organ for the T‐cell arm of the immune system. To perform this role, the thymus was thought to require protection from antigenic and cellular insult from the ‘outside world’, with the notable exception of the continual influx of progenitor cells required to initiate the complicated process of T‐cell differentiation. Overwhelming evidence that mature T cells can recirculate and persist in the thymus has required us to revamp this earlier view of the thymus as detached from outside influence. In this review, we consider the evidence for T‐cell recirculation into the thymus, discuss the likely means and location of mature T‐cell entry, and speculate on the potential consequences of such close apposition between differentiating thymocytes and mature recirculating lymphocytes.