T Cells

T cells are distinguished from other lymphocytes by the T cell receptor (TCR), which B cells and Natural Killer cells do not express. Developed from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, T cells mature in the thymus. There are several types of T cells based on their specific function: helper/effector, cytotoxic, memory, regulatory and gamma delta (γδ) T cells. R&D Systems offers a range of products to facilitate the study of many T cell actions, including migration, adhesion, antigen recognition, activation and proliferation.

Thymocytes

Thymocytes, precursors to T cells, develop in the thymus. They undergo several stages of selection and quality control to ensure maturation results in functional T cells. The first step is beta-selection in the cortex of the thymus which tests the structural properties of the newly formed T cell receptor (TCR) beta chain. The TCR structure must allow presentation on the cell surface with pre-TCR alpha. Thymocytes are then subjected to positive selection, where reactivity and selectively are dependent on functional interactions with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Final maturation of thymocytes occurs in the medulla, where thymocytes with high affinity for self-peptide or the MHC are eliminated from the population by apoptosis. Once thymocytes are released into the peripheral blood stream they are considered mature T cells.

CCR8CCR9CD53CD99
CD99-L2IGSF8/CD316Integrin alpha 4/CD49dIntegrin alpha 4 beta 1
Integrin alpha 4 beta 7/LPAM-1LAIR1Themis 

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