@article{ref1,
title="Fratricide: a mechanism for T memory-cell homeostasis",
journal="Trends in immunology",
year="2003",
author="Callard, Robin E. and Stark, Jaroslav and Yates, Andrew J.",
volume="24",
number="7",
pages="370-375",
abstract="Immunological memory depends on a self-renewing pool of antigen-specific T memory (Tm) cells but the homeostatic mechanisms that maintain the size and diversity of the pool are largely unknown. Competition for space or growth factors has been suggested as a mechanism but how these factors themselves are regulated is unclear. We suggest that Tm-cell fratricide by Fas-mediated apoptosis results in a density-dependent death rate that controls the size of the pool without requiring competition for resources or an external quorum-sensing mechanism. A mathematical model based on this concept predicts the known behaviour of the Tm pool, including observed differences in heterogeneity of the CD4 and CD8 compartments and might provide a paradigm for homeostasis of other haematopoietic-cell populations.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1471-4906",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}