In:
The Journal of Immunology, The American Association of Immunologists, Vol. 163, No. 11 ( 1999-12-01), p. 6053-6059
Abstract:
Pre-TCR expression on developing thymocytes allows cells with productive TCRB gene rearrangements to further differentiate. In wild-type mice, most TCRA gene rearrangements are initiated after pre-TCR expression. However, in pTα-deficient mice, a substantial number of αβ+ thymocytes are still produced, in part because early TCR α-chain expression can rescue immature thymocytes from cell death. In this study, the nature of these TCR α-chains, produced and expressed in the absence of pre-TCR expression, have been analyzed. We show, by FACS analysis and sequencing of rearranged transcripts, that the TCRA repertoire is diverse in pTα−/− mice and that the developmental regulation of AJ segment use is maintained, yet slightly delayed around birth when compared with wild-type mice. We also found that T cell differentiation is more affected by pTα inactivation during late gestation than later in life. These data suggest that the pre-TCR is not functionally required for the initiation and regulation of TCRA gene rearrangement and that fetal thymocytes are more dependent than adult cells on pTα-derived signals for their differentiation.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0022-1767
,
1550-6606
DOI:
10.4049/jimmunol.163.11.6053
Language:
English
Publisher:
The American Association of Immunologists
Publication Date:
1999
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1475085-5
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