| First Author | Lesourne R | Year | 2009 |
| Journal | Nat Immunol | Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 8 | Pages | 840-7 |
| PubMed ID | 19597498 | Mgi Jnum | J:151075 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:4352757 | Doi | 10.1038/ni.1768 |
| Citation | Lesourne R, et al. (2009) Themis, a T cell-specific protein important for late thymocyte development. Nat Immunol 10(8):840-7 |
| abstractText | During positive selection, thymocytes transition through a stage during which T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling controls CD4-versus-CD8 lineage 'choice' and subsequent maturation. Here we describe a previously unknown T cell-specific protein, Themis, that serves a distinct function during this stage. In Themis(-/-) mice, thymocyte selection was impaired and the number of transitional CD4(+)CD8(int) thymocytes as well as CD4(+) or CD8(+) single-positive thymocytes was lower. Notably, although we detected no overt TCR-proximal signaling deficiencies, Themis(-/-) CD4(+)CD8(int) thymocytes showed developmental defects consistent with attenuated signaling that were reversible by TCR stimulation. Our results identify Themis as a critical component of the T cell developmental program and suggest that Themis functions to sustain and/or integrate signals required for proper lineage commitment and maturation. |
