Ribeiro Ruy M, Perelson Alan S
Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA.
Immunol Rev. 2007 Apr;216:21-34. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-065X.2006.00493.x.
T cells develop in the thymus and then are exported to the periphery. As one ages, the lymphoid mass of the thymus decreases, and a concomitant decrease in the ability to produce new T cells results. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects CD4(+) T cells and, hence, can also affect thymic function. Here we discuss experimental techniques and mathematical models that aim to quantify the rate of thymic export. We focus on a recent technique involving the quantification of T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs). We discuss how proper interpretation of TREC data necessitates the critical development of appropriate mathematical models. We review the theory for interpretation of TREC data during aging, HIV infection, and anti-retroviral treatment. Also, we show how TRECs can be used to accurately quantify thymic output in the context of thymectomy experiments. We show that mathematical models are not only useful but absolutely necessary for these analyses. As such, they should be taken as just another tool in the immunologist's arsenal.
T细胞在胸腺中发育，然后输出到外周。随着年龄增长，胸腺的淋巴组织量减少，产生新T细胞的能力也随之下降。人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染CD4(+) T细胞，因此也会影响胸腺功能。在此，我们讨论旨在量化胸腺输出率的实验技术和数学模型。我们重点关注一种涉及T细胞受体切除环（TREC）量化的最新技术。我们讨论了对TREC数据进行正确解读如何需要适当数学模型的关键发展。我们回顾了在衰老、HIV感染和抗逆转录病毒治疗期间解读TREC数据的理论。此外，我们展示了在胸腺切除实验的背景下，TREC如何可用于准确量化胸腺输出。我们表明数学模型不仅有用，而且对于这些分析绝对必要。因此，它们应被视为免疫学家武器库中的又一工具。
