IL-7R-dependent survival and differentiation of early T-lineage progenitors is regulated by the BTB/POZ domain transcription factor Miz-1

Blood. 2011 Mar 24;117(12):3370-81. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-09-310680. Epub 2011 Jan 21.

Abstract

T cells originate from early T lineage precursors that have entered the thymus and differentiate through well-defined steps. Mice deficient for the BTB/POZ domain of zinc finger protein-1 (Miz-1) almost entirely lack early T lineage precursors and have a CD4(-)CD8(-) to CD4(+)CD8(+) block causing a strong reduction in thymic cellularity. Miz-1(ΔPOZ) pro-T cells cannot differentiate in vitro and are unable to relay signals from the interleukin-7R (IL-7R). Both STAT5 phosphorylation and Bcl-2 up-regulation are perturbed. The high expression levels of SOCS1 found in Miz-1(ΔPOZ) cells probably cause these alterations. Moreover, Miz-1 can bind to the SOCS1 promoter, suggesting that Miz-1 deficiency causes a deregulation of SOCS1. Transgenic overexpression of Bcl-2 or inhibition of SOCS1 restored pro-T cell numbers and their ability to differentiate, supporting the hypothesis that Miz-1 is required for the regulation of the IL-7/IL-7R/STAT5/Bcl-2 signaling pathway by monitoring the expression levels of SOCS1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cell Lineage / genetics*
  • Cell Lineage / immunology
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Lymphoid Progenitor Cells / immunology
  • Lymphoid Progenitor Cells / metabolism
  • Lymphoid Progenitor Cells / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7 / physiology*
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / genetics
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Zinc Fingers / genetics

Substances

  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7
  • Socs1 protein, mouse
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • ZBTB17 protein, human