Development Of T Lymphocytes

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the development of T lymphocytes, including the processes involved, important cell types, and associated terminology.

Thymus

Primary lymphoid organ where T cells develop from bone marrow progenitors.

Positive Selection

Process in the thymus that selects T cells capable of recognizing self-MHC molecules.

Negative Selection

Process that eliminates T cells that bind too strongly to self-antigens, preventing autoimmune responses.

Thymocytes

Immature T cells that develop in the thymus.

CD4 and CD8

Co-receptors on T cells that determine the type of T cell; CD4 interacts with MHC class II and CD8 interacts with MHC class I.

Double-positive thymocytes

Thymocytes that express both CD4 and CD8 and are subject to positive and negative selection.

Single-positive thymocytes

Thymocytes that express either CD4 or CD8 after undergoing positive selection.

Regulatory T cells

A subset of CD4+ T cells that help maintain tolerance to self-antigens and prevent autoimmune diseases.

AIRE

Autoimmune Regulator; a protein that facilitates expression of tissue-specific antigens in the thymus for negative selection.

MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex)

Molecules on cell surfaces that present peptides to T cell receptors, crucial for T cell selection and activation.