The E delta enhancer controls the generation of CD4- CD8- alphabetaTCR-expressing T cells that can give rise to different lineages of alphabeta T cells

J Exp Med. 2006 Jun 12;203(6):1543-50. doi: 10.1084/jem.20051711. Epub 2006 Jun 5.

Abstract

It is well established that the pre-T cell receptor for antigen (TCR) is responsible for efficient expansion and differentiation of thymocytes with productive TCRbeta rearrangements. However, Ptcra- as well as Tcra-targeting experiments have suggested that the early expression of Tcra in CD4- CD8- cells can partially rescue the development of alphabeta CD4+ CD8+ cells in Ptcra-deficient mice. In this study, we show that the TCR E delta but not E alpha enhancer function is required for the cell surface expression of alphabetaTCR on immature CD4- CD8- T cell precursors, which play a crucial role in promoting alphabeta T cell development in the absence of pre-TCR. Thus, alphabetaTCR expression by CD4- CD8- thymocytes not only represents a transgenic artifact but occurs under physiological conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Artifacts
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic
  • Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / deficiency
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / deficiency
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Thymus Gland / immunology

Substances

  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • pre-T cell receptor alpha