Description
Molecular mechanisms of cell cycle exit are poorly understood. A group of genes required for cell cycle exit and maintenance of cell quiescence in human fibroblasts following serum deprivation has been recently identified. Studies on lymphocytes following growth factor deprivation-induced cell cycle exit have predominantly focused on the initiation of apoptosis. A set of genes involved in lymphocyte quiescence have also been identified among genes highly expressed in resting lymphocytes and down-regulated after cell activation. In our study, proliferating IL-2-dependent human T cells were forced to exit cell cycle by growth factor withdrawal, and their gene expression profiles were examined.