Abstract
The generation of the TCRαβ lineage of T cells occurs in the thymus through a series of orchestrated developmental events that result in a carefully selected population of CD4 or CD8 lineage-committed TCR(+) thymocytes capable of recognizing foreign antigen in the context of self MHC. T cells first exit the thymus in a phenotypically and functionally immature state and require an approximately 3-week period of post-thymic maturation before transitioning into the mature T cell compartment. A greater understanding of recent thymic emigrant biology has come with the development of methods to exclusively identify and isolate this population for further characterization. I now review current knowledge about the phenotype and function of this key but understudied population of peripheral T cells.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
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Cell Differentiation / genetics
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Cell Differentiation / immunology
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Cell Lineage / genetics
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Cell Lineage / immunology*
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Cell Movement / genetics
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Cell Movement / immunology*
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Cellular Senescence / genetics
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Cellular Senescence / immunology*
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Humans
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / chemistry
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / metabolism
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Thymus Gland / cytology*
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Thymus Gland / immunology*
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Thymus Gland / metabolism
Substances
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta