A causal link between lymphopenia and autoimmunity

Alexander Khoruts, Joanne M. Fraser

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

107 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is well recognized that the composition of the mature T cell population is subject to strict homeostatic control. The TCR repertoire and relative proportions of various T cell subsets are established in the thymus, and continue to be shaped and regulated in the periphery. As the thymic function declines, peripheral homeostatic mechanisms assume increasing importance. Indeed, loss of thymic function does not lead to progressive decline of T cell numbers because peripheral mechanisms ensure that the size of the T cell population is maintained due to proliferation of residual cells. However, our current understanding of the basic mechanisms of 'homeostatic' or lymphopenia-induced proliferation suggests that this drive to maintain population size may be accompanied by loss of TCR diversity and emergence of auto-reactive effector T cells. This prediction is supported by experimental and clinical evidence. This consideration is important because lymphopenia is seen commonly in clinical practice as a consequence of viral infections, or medical treatment of cancer, autoimmunity, and graft rejection. Lymphopenia may be a simple link between viral infections and autoimmunity, and may be one reason for common failure of very potent, but non-specific, immunosuppressive drugs in current clinical use.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)23-31
Number of pages9
JournalImmunology Letters
Volume98
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 15 2005

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Drs. Daniel L. Mueller and Erik J. Peterson for the critical review of the manuscript and helpful discussions. This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health Grant RO1 DK061961.

Keywords

  • Autoimmunity
  • Costimulation
  • Lymphopenia
  • Lymphopenia-induced proliferation
  • Regulatory CD25CD4 T cells
  • T cell homeostasis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A causal link between lymphopenia and autoimmunity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this