LIFE-SPAN OF LYMPHOCYTES

T and B lymphocytes comprise heterogeneous populations of cells at var ious stages of differentiation and activation. T- and B-cell subsets h ave different roles in the maintenance of immune homeostasis, and thei r functional differences are reflected by their respective lifespans. This review briefly summarizes the available data on lymphocyte lifesp an, including the kinetics of T- and B-cell development in the primary lymphoid organs and the proliferative behavior of naive, effector and memory lymphocytes in the peripheral lymphoid compartment.