scholarly journals Pre–T Cell Receptor (Tcr) and Tcr-Controlled Checkpoints in T Cell Differentiation Are Set by Ikaros

1999 ◽  
Vol 190 (8) ◽  
pp. 1039-1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Winandy ◽  
Li Wu ◽  
Jin-Hong Wang ◽  
Katia Georgopoulos

T cell differentiation relies on pre–T cell receptor (TCR) and TCR signaling events that take place at successive steps of the pathway. Here, we show that two of these T cell differentiation checkpoints are regulated by Ikaros. In the absence of Ikaros, double negative thymocytes can differentiate to the double positive stage without expression of a pre-TCR complex. Subsequent events in T cell development mediated by TCR involving transition from the double positive to the single positive stage are also regulated by Ikaros. Nonetheless, in Ikaros-deficient thymocytes, the requirement of pre-TCR expression for expansion of immature thymocytes as they progress to the double positive stage is still maintained, and the T cell malignancies that invariably arise in the thymus of Ikaros-deficient mice are dependent on either pre-TCR or TCR signaling. We conclude that Ikaros regulates T cell differentiation, selection, and homeostasis by providing signaling thresholds for pre-TCR and TCR.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 1296-1304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariadne L. Hager-Theodorides ◽  
Johannes T. Dessens ◽  
Susan V. Outram ◽  
Tessa Crompton

AbstractGlioblastoma 3 (Gli3) is a transcription factor involved in patterning and oncogenesis. Here, we demonstrate a role for Gli3 in thymocyte development. Gli3 is differentially expressed in fetal CD4–CD8– double-negative (DN) thymocytes and is most highly expressed at the CD44+ CD25– DN (DN1) and CD44–CD25– (DN4) stages of development but was not detected in adult thymocytes. Analysis of null mutants showed that Gli3 is involved at the transitions from DN1 to CD44+ CD25+ DN (DN2) cell and from DN to CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) cell. Gli3 is required for differentiation from DN to DP thymocyte, after pre–T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling but is not necessary for pre-TCR–induced proliferation or survival. The effect of Gli3 was dose dependent, suggesting its direct involvement in the transcriptional regulation of genes controlling T-cell differentiation during fetal development.


Nature ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 327 (6124) ◽  
pp. 677-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yueh-hsiu Chien ◽  
Makio Iwashima ◽  
Kenneth B. Kaplan ◽  
John F. Elliott ◽  
Mark M. Davis

Cell ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikas P. Sukhatme ◽  
Kurt C. Sizer ◽  
Amy C. Vollmer ◽  
Tim Hunkapiller ◽  
Jane R. Parnes

Blood ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 908-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Jr Mirro ◽  
G Kitchingman ◽  
FG Behm ◽  
SB Murphy ◽  
RM Goorha

Abstract T cell differentiation was investigated by determining the relationship of T cell receptor (Ti) gene rearrangement and transcription to the expression of surface and cytoplasmic T3 antigen using blast cells from five children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia of thymic origin. Patterns of monoclonal antibody (MoAb) reactivity indicated that these cases were representative of the three recognized stages (I, II, III) of human thymocyte development. The T3 antigen, which becomes linked to the Ti to form a functional T cell receptor complex on mature thymocytes, was expressed on the cell surface in two cases (stage III). However, in the remaining three cases that were surface T3 negative (stages I and II), large amounts of T3 were identified in the cytoplasm by immunoperoxidase staining and flow cytometry. Leukemic blasts from all five patients showed rearranged genes encoding the beta-chain portion of the Ti heterodimer. RNA transcripts of Ti beta-chain genes were also evident in lymphoblasts from all five cases, but transcripts coding for the alpha-chain portion of Ti were found only in cases that expressed T3 on the cell surface. Thus the absence of surface T3 (and presumably Ti) coincides with the absence of Ti alpha-chain RNA, suggesting that transcription of alpha-chain genes is a critical regulatory event in the surface expression of the Ti-T3 complex. Leukemic T cells that rearrange and express Ti beta-chain genes but lack Ti alpha-chain messenger RNA (mRNA) may represent a stage of differentiation analogous to pre-B cells, where heavy-chain immunoglobulin (Ig) genes are rearranged and expressed but light-chain Ig genes are not expressed.


2003 ◽  
Vol 197 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolong Liu ◽  
Anthony Adams ◽  
Kathryn F. Wildt ◽  
Bruce Aronow ◽  
Lionel Feigenbaum ◽  
...  

Although T cell receptor (TCR) signals are essential for intrathymic T cell–positive selection, it remains controversial whether they only serve to initiate this process, or whether they are required throughout to promote thymocyte differentiation and survival. To address this issue, we have devised a novel approach to interfere with thymocyte TCR signaling in a developmental stage-specific manner in vivo. We have reconstituted mice deficient for Zap70, a tyrosine kinase required for TCR signaling and normally expressed throughout T cell development, with a Zap70 transgene driven by the adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene enhancer, which is active in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes but inactive in CD4+ or CD8+ single-positive (SP) thymocytes. In such mice, termination of Zap70 expression impaired TCR signal transduction and arrested thymocyte development after the initiation, but before the completion, of positive selection. Arrested thymocytes had terminated Rag gene expression and up-regulated TCR and Bcl-2 expression, but failed to differentiate into mature CD4 or CD8 SP thymocytes, to be rescued from death by neglect or to sustain interleukin 7Rα expression. These observations identify a TCR-dependent proofreading mechanism that verifies thymocyte TCR specificity and differentiation choices before the completion of positive selection.


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