HIV and TCell Numbers/Memory

[David Peritt]

In article <Pine.3.89.9502211437.A132967-0100000 at UNCVX1.OIT.UNC.EDU> ,
JAF at UNCVX1.OIT.UNC.EDU writes:
>Lots of mouse data says the thymus functions well in adults.  Irradiated 
>mice reconsituted with bone marrow become noramlly responsive pretty 
>quickly, as do humans (about a year for people).  Thymectomized mice 
>irradiated and bm reconsituted do not develope T cell funtion,  so the 
>thymus must work even though it involutes.

The question is not whether the thymus is essential in BM Tx.  This is
obviously true since the pre-T's must transverse the thymus to mature. 
The question is if you Tx mature T cells into irr athymic mouse will
these cells populate the mouse by proliferating to fill the T cell void?