Computational modelling of T-cell formation kinetics: output regulated by initial proliferation-linked deferral of developmental competence.
Bone-marrow-derived progenitors must continually enter the thymus of an adult mouse to sustain T-cell homeostasis, yet only a few input cells per day are sufficient to support a yield of 5 × 10(7) immature T-cells per day and an eventual output of 1-2 × 10(6) mature cells per day. While substantial progress has been made to delineate the developmental pathway of T-cell lineage commitment, still li