Homeostasis of alpha beta TCR+ T cells

Cytokines contribute to T cell homeostasis at all stages of T cell existenc e. However, the particular cytokine involved varies as T cells progress fro m a naive through an activated to a memory state. In many cases the importa nt cytokines are members of the interleukin 2 subfamily of the short-chain type I cytokines. A case is made for the idea that the evolutionary diverge nce of the short-chain family allowed for concurrent divergence in leukocyt es.