Lymphoid progenitors are a crucial subset of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that give rise to the various immune cell types within the lymphoid lineage. They play a critical role therefore in the adaptive immune response, providing defence against pathogens and maintaining immune system homeostasis. Lymphoid progenitors originate from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow during embryonic and adult haematopoiesis. They represent a specialized lineage, committed to generating lymphocytes, including T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. Commitment is governed by specific transcription factors and signalling pathways. Key transcription factors that regulate the development of lymphoid progenitors include: 1) PU.1, essential for myeloid cell development but also with a role in lymphoid cell fate determination; 2) IKZF1 (IKAROS) a transcription factor necessary for B cell development and with a role in maintaining lymphoid progenitor identity; 3) GATA-3, important for the development of T cells and NK cells; 4) E2A (TCF3) and HEB (TCF12), transcription factors that promote B cell development and involved in early lymphocyte commitment. Additional genes important for lymphoid development include recombination-activating genes (RAG1 and RAG2) that are essential for the rearrangement of antigen receptor genes during lymphocyte development. Common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) are a subset of lymphoid progenitors that give rise to both B cells and T cells. CLPs express surface markers including CD127 and lack lineage markers for myeloid and erythroid cells. Lymphoid progenitors can further differentiate into B cell progenitors (pre-B cells) or T cell progenitors (pre-T cells) depending on specific cues from the microenvironment. Notch signalling for example is crucial for T cell commitment, whilst B cell development requires interactions with stromal cells in the bone marrow. B cell progenitors undergo a series of immunoglobulin gene rearrangements (VDJ recombination) to generate a repertoire of B cell receptors (BCRs). This ensures that B cells can recognize a wide range of antigens. T cell progenitors on the other hand migrate to the thymus and undergo positive and negative selection processes to ensure the generation of functional T cells able to recognize antigens presented by major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs). Lymphoid progenitors are essential for the adaptive immune response. T cells are critical for cell-mediated immunity, whilst B cells are responsible for antibody production and humoral immunity. Conversely, NK cells provide innate immune defence against infected and cancerous cells. Multiple molecular signalling pathways, including Notch, interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R), and Wnt, are involved in lymphoid progenitor development and lineage commitment. These pathways help regulate gene expression, cell proliferation, and survival. Mutations or disruptions in genes involved in lymphoid progenitor development can lead to immunodeficiency disorders, such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). SCID is a group of rare and severe genetic disorders that affect the development of both T cells and B cells. As a result, individuals with SCID have virtually no functioning immune system, making them highly susceptible to infections. The most common form of SCID is caused by mutations in genes such as IL2RG (common gamma chain), which are essential for lymphoid cell development. We offer a wide product range of research reagents for studying lymphoid progenitors, including CD45 antibodies, CD4 antibodies, CD31 antibodies, ICAM1 ELISA Kits, and CD26 ELISA Kits. Explore our full lymphoid progenitors product range below and discover more, for less. Alternatively, you can explore our T Lymphocytic Lineage, B Lymphocytic Lineage, and NK Cell Lineage product ranges.