| First Author | Fu G | Year | 2009 |
| Journal | Nat Immunol | Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 8 | Pages | 848-56 |
| PubMed ID | 19597499 | Mgi Jnum | J:151074 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:4352756 | Doi | 10.1038/ni.1766 |
| Citation | Fu G, et al. (2009) Themis controls thymocyte selection through regulation of T cell antigen receptor-mediated signaling. Nat Immunol 10(8):848-56 |
| abstractText | Themis (thymocyte-expressed molecule involved in selection), a member of a family of proteins with unknown functions, is highly conserved among vertebrates. Here we found that Themis had high expression in thymocytes between the pre-T cell antigen receptor (pre-TCR) and positive-selection checkpoints and low expression in mature T cells. Themis-deficient thymocytes showed defective positive selection, which resulted in fewer mature thymocytes. Negative selection was also impaired in Themis-deficient mice. A greater percentage of Themis-deficient T cells had CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory and CD62L(lo)CD44(hi) memory phenotypes than did wild-type T cells. In support of the idea that Themis is involved in TCR signaling, this protein was phosphorylated quickly after TCR stimulation and was needed for optimal TCR-driven calcium mobilization and activation of the kinase Erk. |
