scholarly journals The transcriptional repressor Bcl6 promotes pre-TCR-induced thymocyte differentiation and attenuates Notch1 activation

Development ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 147 (19) ◽  
pp. dev192203
Author(s):  
Anisha Solanki ◽  
Diana C. Yánez ◽  
Ching-In Lau ◽  
Jasmine Rowell ◽  
Alessandro Barbarulo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Transcriptional Repressor ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Thymocyte Development ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Conditional Deletion ◽  
Tcr Signal Transduction ◽  
Thymocyte Differentiation ◽  
Notch Activation

ABSTRACTPre-T-cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction is required for developing thymocytes to differentiate from CD4−CD8− double-negative (DN) cell to CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) cell. Notch signalling is required for T-cell fate specification and must be maintained throughout β-selection, but inappropriate Notch activation in DN4 and DP cells is oncogenic. Here, we show that pre-TCR signalling leads to increased expression of the transcriptional repressor Bcl6 and that Bcl6 is required for differentiation to DP. Conditional deletion of Bcl6 from thymocytes reduced pre-TCR-induced differentiation to DP cells, disrupted expansion and enrichment of intracellular TCRβ+ cells within the DN population and increased DN4 cell death. Deletion also increased Notch1 activation and Notch-mediated transcription in the DP population. Thus, Bcl6 is required in thymocyte development for efficient differentiation from DN3 to DP and to attenuate Notch1 activation in DP cells. Given the importance of inappropriate NOTCH1 signalling in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL), and the involvement of BCL6 in other types of leukaemia, this study is important to our understanding of T-ALL.

scholarly journals TOX Provides a Link Between Calcineurin Activation and CD8 Lineage Commitment

2004 ◽  
Vol 199 (8) ◽  
pp. 1089-1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parinaz Aliahmad ◽  
Emmett O'Flaherty ◽  
Peggy Han ◽  
Olivia D. Goularte ◽  
Beverley Wilkinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Positive Selection ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Signaling Cascades ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Nuclear Factors ◽  
Nuclear Changes ◽  
Thymocyte Differentiation ◽  
Multiple Signaling

T cell development is dependent on the integration of multiple signaling pathways, although few links between signaling cascades and downstream nuclear factors that play a role in thymocyte differentiation have been identified. We show here that expression of the HMG box protein TOX is sufficient to induce changes in coreceptor gene expression associated with β-selection, including CD8 gene demethylation. TOX expression is also sufficient to initiate positive selection to the CD8 lineage in the absence of MHC–TCR interactions. TOX-mediated positive selection is associated with up-regulation of Runx3, implicating CD4 silencing in the process. Interestingly, a strong T cell receptor–mediated signal can modify this cell fate. We further demonstrate that up-regulation of TOX in double positive thymocytes is calcineurin dependent, linking this critical signaling pathway to nuclear changes during positive selection.

scholarly journals Defined αβ T Cell Receptors with Distinct Ligand Specificities Do Not Require Those Ligands to Signal Double Negative Thymocyte Differentiation

2004 ◽  
Vol 199 (12) ◽  
pp. 1719-1724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Batu Erman ◽  
Terry I. Guinter ◽  
Alfred Singer
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Development ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Peptide Ligands ◽  
Double Negative ◽  
Antigen Receptors ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Recombination Activating Gene ◽  
Thymocyte Differentiation ◽  
Deficient Mice

During T cell development in the thymus, pre–T cell receptor (TCR) complexes signal CD4− CD8− (double negative [DN]) thymocytes to differentiate into CD4+ CD8+ (double positive [DP]) thymocytes, and they generate such signals without apparent ligand engagements. Although ligand-independent signaling is unusual and might be unique to the pre-TCR, it is possible that other TCR complexes such as αβ TCR or αγ TCR might also be able to signal the DN to DP transition in the absence of ligand engagement if they were expressed on DN thymocytes. Although αγ TCR complexes efficiently signal DN thymocyte differentiation, it is not yet certain if αβ TCR complexes are also capable of signaling DN thymocyte differentiation, nor is it certain if such signaling is dependent upon ligand engagement. This study has addressed these questions by expressing defined αβ TCR transgenes in recombination activating gene 2−/− pre-Tα−/− double deficient mice. In such double deficient mice, the only antigen receptors that can be expressed are those encoded by the αβ TCR transgenes. In this way, this study definitively demonstrates that αβ TCR can in fact signal the DN to DP transition. In addition, this study demonstrates that transgenic αβ TCRs signal the DN to DP transition even in the absence of their specific MHC–peptide ligands.

scholarly journals The transcription factor Gli3 regulates differentiation of fetal CD4–CD8– double-negative thymocytes

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 1296-1304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariadne L. Hager-Theodorides ◽  
Johannes T. Dessens ◽  
Susan V. Outram ◽  
Tessa Crompton
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Receptor ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
T Cell Differentiation ◽  
Double Negative ◽  
Thymocyte Development ◽  
Tcr Signaling ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Dose Dependent

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.

scholarly journals Regulation of thymocyte development through CD3. II. Expression of T cell receptor beta CD3 epsilon and maturation to the CD4+8+ stage are highly correlated in individual thymocytes.

1993 ◽  
Vol 178 (6) ◽  
pp. 1867-1875 ◽  
Author(s):  
C N Levelt ◽  
R Carsetti ◽  
K Eichmann
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Receptor ◽  
Alternative Hypothesis ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Beta Chain ◽  
Thymocyte Development ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Highly Correlated

Recent studies have shown that maturation of CD4-8- double negative (DN) thymocytes to the CD4+8+ double positive (DP) stage is dependent on expression of the T cell receptor (TCR)-beta polypeptide. The exact mechanism by which the TCR-beta chain regulates this maturation step remains unknown. Previous experiments had suggested that in the presence of some TCR+ thymocytes, additional DN thymocytes not expressing a TCR-beta chain may be recruited to mature to the DP stage. The recent demonstration of an immature TCR-beta-CD3 complex on early thymocytes lead to the alternative hypothesis that signal transduction through an immature TCR-CD3 complex may induce maturation to the DP stage. In the latter case, maturation to the DP stage would depend on the expression of TCR-beta-CD3 in the same cell. We examined these two hypotheses by studying the expression of the intra- and extracellular CD3 epsilon, CD3 zeta, and TCR-beta polypeptides in intrathymic subpopulations during embryogenesis. CD3 epsilon and CD3 zeta were expressed intracellularly 2 and 1 d, respectively, before intracellular expression of the TCR-beta chain, potentially allowing immediate surface expression of an immature TCR-beta-CD3 complex as soon as functional rearrangement of a TCR-beta gene locus has been accomplished. Calcium mobilization could be induced by stimulation with anti-CD3 epsilon mAb as soon as intracellular TCR-beta was detectable, suggesting that a functional TCR-beta-CD3 complex is indeed expressed on the surface of early thymocytes. From day 17 on, most cells were in the DP stage, and over 95% of the DP cells expressed on the TCR-beta chain intracellularly. At day 19 of gestation, extremely low concentrations of TCR-beta chain and CD3 epsilon were detectable on the cell surface of nearly all thymocytes previously thought to be TCR-CD3 negative. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that maturation to the DP stage depends on surface expression of and subsequent signal transduction through an immature TCR-beta-CD3 complex and suggest that maturation to the DP stage by recruitment, if it occurs at all, is of minor relevance.

scholarly journals Disregulated expression of the transcription factor ThPOK during T-cell development leads to high incidence of T-cell lymphomas

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (25) ◽  
pp. 7773-7778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyung-Ok Lee ◽  
Xiao He ◽  
Jayati Mookerjee-Basu ◽  
Dai Zhongping ◽  
Xiang Hua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
T Cell Development ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
Thymocyte Development ◽  
Tcr Signaling ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Human T Cell

The transcription factor T-helper-inducing POZ/Krueppel-like factor (ThPOK, encoded by the Zbtb7b gene) plays widespread and critical roles in T-cell development, particularly as the master regulator of CD4 commitment. Here we show that mice expressing a constitutive T-cell–specific ThPOK transgene (ThPOKconst mice) develop thymic lymphomas. These tumors resemble human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), in that they predominantly exhibit activating Notch1 mutations. Lymphomagenesis is prevented if thymocyte development is arrested at the DN3 stage by recombination-activating gene (RAG) deficiency, but restored by introduction of a T-cell receptor (TCR) transgene or by a single injection of anti-αβTCR antibody into ThPOKconst RAG-deficient mice, which promotes development to the CD4+8+ (DP) stage. Hence, TCR signals and/or traversal of the DN (double negative) > DP (double positive) checkpoint are required for ThPOK-mediated lymphomagenesis. These results demonstrate a novel link between ThPOK, TCR signaling, and lymphomagenesis. Finally, we present evidence that ectopic ThPOK expression gives rise to a preleukemic and self-perpetuating DN4 lymphoma precursor population. Our results collectively define a novel role for ThPOK as an oncogene and precisely map the stage in thymopoiesis susceptible to ThPOK-dependent tumor initiation.

scholarly journals Chromatin organizer SATB1 controls the cell identity of CD4+ CD8+ double-positive thymocytes by compacting super-enhancers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delong Feng ◽  
Yanhong Chen ◽  
Ranran Dai ◽  
Shasha Bian ◽  
Wei Xue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Regulation Mechanism ◽  
Thymocyte Development ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Enhancer Activity ◽  
Cell Identity ◽  
Single Positive

Abstract CD4+ and CD8+ double-positive (DP) thymocytes are at a crucial stage during the T cell development in the thymus. DP cells rearrange the T cell receptor gene Tcra to generate T cell receptors with TCRβ. Then DP cells differentiate into CD4 or CD8 single-positive (SP) thymocytes, Regulatory T cells, or invariant nature kill T cells (iNKT) according to the TCR signal. Chromatin organizer SATB1 is highly expressed in DP cells and plays an essential role in regulating Tcra rearrangement and differentiation of DP cells. Here we explored the mechanism of SATB1 orchestrating gene expression in DP cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing assay of SATB1-deficient thymocytes showed that the cell identity of DP thymocytes was changed, and the genes specifically highly expressed in DP cells were down-regulated. The super-enhancers regulate the expressions of the DP-specific genes, and the SATB1 deficiency reduced the super-enhancer activity. Hi-C data showed that interactions in super-enhancers and between super-enhancers and promoters decreased in SATB1 deficient thymocytes. We further explored the regulation mechanism of two SATB1-regulating genes, Ets2 and Bcl6, in DP cells and found that the knockout of the super-enhancers of these two genes impaired the development of DP cells. Our research reveals that SATB1 globally regulates super-enhancers of DP cells and promotes the establishment of DP cell identity, which helps understand the role of SATB1 in thymocyte development.

scholarly journals Tec Family Kinases Modulate Thresholds for Thymocyte Development and Selection

2000 ◽  
Vol 192 (7) ◽  
pp. 987-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward M. Schaeffer ◽  
Christine Broussard ◽  
Jayanta Debnath ◽  
Stacie Anderson ◽  
Daniel W. McVicar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Negative Selection ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Quantitative Model ◽  
Thymocyte Development ◽  
Tcr Signaling ◽  
Tec Kinases

Tec family kinases are implicated in T cell receptor (TCR) signaling, and combined mutation of inducible T cell kinase (Itk) and resting lymphocyte kinase (Rlk)/Txk in mice dramatically impairs mature T cell function. Nonetheless, mutation of these kinases still permits T cell development. While itk−/− mice exhibit mild reductions in T cells with decreased CD4/CD8 cell ratios, rlk−/−itk−/− mice have improved total T cell numbers yet maintain decreased CD4/CD8 ratios. Using TCR transgenics and an in vitro thymocyte deletion model, we demonstrate that mutation of Tec kinases causes graded defects in thymocyte selection, leading to a switch from negative to positive selection in rlk−/−itk−/− animals. The reduction in both positive and negative selection and decreased CD4/CD8 ratios correlates with decreased biochemical parameters of TCR signaling, specifically defects in capacitive Ca2+ influx and activation of the mitogen-activated kinases extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1 and 2. Thus, Tec kinases influence cell fate determination by modulating TCR signaling, leading to altered thresholds for thymocyte selection. These results provide support for a quantitative model for thymic development and provide evidence that defects in negative selection can substantially alter thymic cellularity.

scholarly journals Early Thymocyte Development Is Regulated by Modulation of E2a Protein Activity

2001 ◽  
Vol 194 (6) ◽  
pp. 733-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Engel ◽  
Carol Johns ◽  
Gretchen Bain ◽  
Richard R. Rivera ◽  
Cornelis Murre
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Thymocyte Development ◽  
Protein Activity ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Dna Binding Activity

The E2A gene encodes the E47 and E12 basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors. T cell development in E2A-deficient mice is partially arrested before lineage commitment. Here we demonstrate that E47 expression becomes uniformly high at the point at which thymocytes begin to commit towards the T cell lineage. E47 protein levels remain high until the double positive developmental stage, at which point they drop to relatively moderate levels, and are further downregulated upon transition to the single positive stage. However, stimuli that mimic pre-T cell receptor (TCR) signaling in committed T cell precursors inhibit E47 DNA-binding activity and induce the bHLH inhibitor Id3 through a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase–dependent pathway. Consistent with these observations, a deficiency in E2A proteins completely abrogates the developmental block observed in mice with defects in TCR rearrangement. Thus E2A proteins are necessary for both initiating T cell differentiation and inhibiting development in the absence of pre-TCR expression. Mechanistically, these data link pre-TCR mediated signaling and E2A downstream target genes into a common pathway.

scholarly journals IL-7 Receptor Signals Inhibit Expression of Transcription Factors TCF-1, LEF-1, and RORγt

2004 ◽  
Vol 200 (6) ◽  
pp. 797-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Yu ◽  
Batu Erman ◽  
Jung-Hyun Park ◽  
Lionel Feigenbaum ◽  
Alfred Singer
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Inhibitory Influence ◽  
Thymocyte Development ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Downstream Target ◽  
Single Positive

Intrathymic T cell development depends on signals transduced by both T cell receptor and cytokine receptors. Early CD4−CD8− (double negative) thymocytes require interleukin (IL)-7 receptor (IL-7R) signals for survival and proliferation, but IL-7R signals are normally extinguished by the immature single positive (ISP) stage of thymocyte development. We now demonstrate that IL-7R signals inhibit expression of transcription factors TCF-1, LEF-1, and RORγt that are required for the ISP to double positive (DP) transition in the thymus. In addition, we demonstrate that IL-7R signals also inhibit TCF-1 and LEF-1 expression in mature peripheral T cells. Thus, the present work has identified several important downstream target genes of IL-7R signaling in T cells and thymocytes that provide a molecular mechanism for the inhibitory influence of IL-7R signaling on DP thymocyte development. We conclude that IL-7R signals down-regulate transcription factors required for the ISP to DP transition and so must be terminated by the ISP stage of thymocyte development.

scholarly journals ZAP-70 Protein Promotes Tyrosine Phosphorylation of T Cell Receptor Signaling Motifs (ITAMs) in Immature CD4+8+ Thymocytes with Limiting p56lck

1999 ◽  
Vol 189 (7) ◽  
pp. 1163-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Ashe ◽  
David L. Wiest ◽  
Ryo Abe ◽  
Alfred Singer
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Tyrosine Phosphorylation ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Early Event ◽  
Tcr Signaling ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Repertoire Selection ◽  
Tcr Signal Transduction ◽  
Relative Deficiency

As a result of interaction with epithelial cells in the thymic cortex, immature CD4+8+ (double positive, DP) thymocytes express relatively few T cell receptors (TCRs) and contain diminished numbers of coreceptor-associated p56lck (lck) PTK molecules. As a result, TCR signal transduction in DP thymocytes is significantly impaired, despite its importance for repertoire selection. We report here that, in DP thymocytes, tyrosine phosphorylation of TCR signaling motifs (ITAMs) by lck, an early event in TCR signal transduction, is dependent upon ZAP-70 protein independent of ZAP-70's kinase activity. Furthermore, the dependence on ZAP-70 protein for ITAM phosphorylation diminishes as available lck increases. Importantly, ZAP-70's role in ITAM phosphorylation in DP thymocytes is not limited to protecting phosphorylated ITAMs from dephosphorylation. Rather, this study indicates that ZAP-70 protein augments ITAM phosphorylation in DP thymocytes and so compensates in part for the relative deficiency of coreceptor-associated lck.

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