Lymphotoxin signals from positively selected thymocytes regulate the terminal differentiation of medullary thymic epithelial cells

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 185; no. 8; pp. 4769 - 4776
• Main Authors: White, Andrea J, Nakamura, Kyoko, Jenkinson, William E, Saini, Manoj, Sinclair, Charles, Seddon, Benedict, Narendran, Parth, Pfeffer, Klaus, Nitta, Takeshi, Takahama, Yousuke, Caamano, Jorge H, Lane, Peter J L, Jenkinson, Eric J, Anderson, Graham
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15.10.2010
• Subjects: AIRE Protein; Animals; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Cell Separation; Epithelial Cells - cytology; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Lymphotoxin-alpha - immunology; Lymphotoxin-alpha - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Microscopy, Confocal; Protein Precursors - immunology; Protein Precursors - metabolism; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - immunology; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - metabolism; Self Tolerance - immunology; Signal Transduction - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Thymus Gland - cytology; Transcription Factors - immunology; Transcription Factors - metabolism

The thymic medulla represents a key site for the induction of T cell tolerance. In particular, autoimmune regulator (Aire)-expressing medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) provide a spectrum of tissue-restricted Ags that, through both direct presentation and cross-presentation by dendritic cells...