Naive T lymphocytes undergo heterogeneous proliferative responses when introduced into lymphopenic hosts, referred to as “homeostatic proliferation” and “spontaneous proliferation.” Spontaneous proliferation is a unique process through which the immune system generates memory phenotype cells with increasing T cell ...

Where does T cell proliferation occur?

T cells are generated in the Thymus and are programmed to be specific for one particular foreign particle (antigen). Once they leave the thymus, they circulate throughout the body until they recognise their antigen on the surface of antigen presenting cells (APCs).

Do T cells undergo clonal proliferation?

During T cell differentiation, the naive T cell becomes a blast cell that proliferates by clonal expansion and differentiates into memory and effector T cells. Many subsets of helper T cells are created during T cell differentiation and perform vastly different functions for the immune system.