The measurement of surface markers such as CD45RA, CD45RO or CD27/CD62L/CCR7 is a common, and widely accepted method used by polychromatic flow cytometry users to evaluate the numbers of naive T cells in experimental samples. Even though this population is often considered as a homogeneous group of immune cells, it is becoming increasingly clear that naive T cell niche includes, instead a rather vast spectrum of cells with different function, differentiation state and phenotype.
In this Review, published on Nature Reviews Immunology, Theo van den Broek, José Borghans and Femke van Wijk cover the true phenotypical and functional heterogeneity of naive T cells, as well as their biology, physiology and the implication of this diversity in health and disease.
Original Source: Nature Reviews Immunology