REVIEW

Cell Research, 15(10):749-769, October 2005

The role of apoptosis in the development and function of T lymphocytes

Nu ZHANG, Heather HARTIG, Ivan DZHAGALOV, David DRAPER, You Wen HE^*

Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA

Correspondence: You Wen HE 1-919-613-7870 (phone) 1-919-684-8982 (fax) he000004@mc.duke.edu

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Apoptosis plays an essential role in T cell biology. Thymocytes expressing nonfunctional or autoreactive TCRs are eliminated by apoptosis during development. Apoptosis also leads to the deletion of expanded effector T cells during immune responses. The dysregulation of apoptosis in the immune system results in autoimmunity, tumorogenesis and immunodeficiency. Two major pathways lead to apoptosis: the intrinsic cell death pathway controlled by Bcl-2 family members and the extrinsic cell death pathway controlled by death receptor signaling. These two pathways work together to regulate T lymphocyte development and function.

Keywords: thymocyte, effector, memory T lymphocytes, apoptosis.