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Homeostatic maintenance of T cells and natural killer cells

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Abstract

Homeostasis in the immune system encompasses the mechanisms governing maintenance of a functional and diverse pool of lymphocytes, thus guaranteeing immunity to pathogens while remaining self-tolerant. Antigen-naïve T cells rely on survival signals through contact with self-peptide-loaded major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules plus interleukin (IL)-7. Conversely, antigen-experienced (memory) T cells are typically MHC-independent and they survive and undergo periodic homeostatic proliferation through contact with both IL-7 and IL-15. Also, non-conventional γδ T cells rely on a mix of IL-7 and IL-15 for their homeostasis, whereas natural killer cells are mainly dependent on contact with IL-15. Homeostasis of CD4+ T regulatory cells is different in being chiefly regulated by contact with IL-2. Notably, increased levels of these cytokines cause expansion of responsive lymphocytes, such as found in lymphopenic hosts or following cytokine injection, whereas reduced cytokine levels cause a decline in cell numbers.

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Abbreviations

APC:

Antigen-presenting cell

Blimp-1:

B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1

BTLA:

B and T lymphocyte attenuator

Foxo1:

Forkhead box o1

Foxp3:

Forkhead box p3

GABPα:

GA binding protein α

Gfi-1:

Growth factor independence 1

IFN:

Interferon

IL:

Interleukin

Jak:

Janus kinase

KLF2:

Kruppel-like factor 2

KLRG1:

Killer cell lectin-like receptor G1

LCMV:

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus

LN:

Lymph node

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

MHC:

Major histocompatibility complex

MP:

Memory-phenotype

NK:

Natural killer

RAG:

Recombinase-activating gene

S1P1 :

Sphingosine 1 phosphate receptor 1

SOCS-1:

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1

STAT5:

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5

TCF-1:

T cell factor 1

TCR:

T cell receptor

TGF-β:

Transforming growth factor-β

TLR:

Toll-like receptor

Treg:

T regulatory cell

TSLP:

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin

γc :

Common γ chain

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Allergy Unit, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Gloriastrasse 31, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland

    Onur Boyman & Carsten Krieg

  2. Laboratory of Applied Immunobiology, University of Zurich, Gloriastrasse 30, 8006, Zurich, Switzerland

    Onur Boyman & Carsten Krieg

  3. Departments of Pediatrics, Immunology and Microbiology, Barbara Davis Center, University of Colorado Denver, M20-3202D, 1775 Aurora Court, Aurora, CO, 80010, USA

    Dirk Homann

  4. Immunology Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia

    Jonathan Sprent

  5. WCU-IBB Program, POSTECH, Pohang, Korea

    Jonathan Sprent

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  1. Onur Boyman
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  2. Carsten Krieg
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  4. Jonathan Sprent
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Correspondence to Onur Boyman.

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Boyman, O., Krieg, C., Homann, D. et al. Homeostatic maintenance of T cells and natural killer cells. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 69, 1597–1608 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-012-0968-7

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