Naïve to memory T-cell differentiation during homeostasis-driven proliferation.

During homeostasis-driven T-cell proliferation, naïve T cells stably acquire the cell surface markers and functional properties of antigen-induced memory T cells. Thus, in T-cell-deficient individuals, homeostasis-driven T-cell proliferation appears to restore only the memory T-cell compartment, whereas the reconstitution of the naïve T-cell compartment depends on de novo T-cell development in the thymus.