Lymphocide: cytokines and the control of lymphoid homeostasis

Nat Rev Immunol. 2002 Nov;2(11):817-30. doi: 10.1038/nri931.

Abstract

In a human, about 10(11) excess peripheral lymphocytes die every day. This death process maintains a constant lymphocyte population size in the face of a continuous influx of new lymphocytes and the homeostatic proliferation of old ones. Death is triggered when a lymphocyte fails to acquire signals from survival factors, the availability of which, therefore, determines the size of the pool of lymphocytes. A lymphocyte acquires survival signals through receptors for cytokines, antigens, hormones and probably other extracellular factors. Here, we discuss current concepts of the intracellular signalling pathways for survival versus death that establish cytokine-regulated lymphocyte homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology
  • Caspases / physiology
  • Cell Death
  • Cytokines / physiology*
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Homeostasis / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Membrane Proteins*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / physiology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / physiology
  • Transgenes
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • fas Receptor / physiology

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • BCL2L11 protein, human
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytokines
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • fas Receptor
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Caspases
  • Glucose