| First Author | Cowan JE | Year | 2016 |
| Journal | Cell Rep | Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 1041-1048 |
| PubMed ID | 26832402 | Mgi Jnum | J:269847 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6274159 | Doi | 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.01.003 |
| Citation | Cowan JE, et al. (2016) CCR7 Controls Thymus Recirculation, but Not Production and Emigration, of Foxp3(+) T Cells. Cell Rep 14(5):1041-1048 |
| abstractText | Current models of Foxp3(+) regulatory T cell (Treg) development involve CCR7-mediated migration of thymocytes into the thymus medulla to enable essential interactions with medullary epithelium. However, increased Foxp3(+) thymic Treg numbers in Ccr7(-/-) mice challenge this view, and the role of CCR7 in Treg development, emigration, and/or recirculation is unknown. Here, we have examined CCR7 and Rag2pGFP levels during Treg development and generated Rag2pGFPCcr7(-/-) mice to study its impact on the intrathymic Treg pool. We reveal surprising developmental heterogeneity in thymocytes described as Treg precursors, showing that they contain recirculating CCR6(+)CCR7(-)Rag2pGFP(-) T cells. Although CCR7 defines bona fide Rag2GFP(+) Treg precursors, it is not required for Treg production and emigration. Rather, we show that lack of CCR7 renders the thymus more receptive to Treg thymus homing. Our study reveals a role for CCR7 in limiting Treg recirculation back to the thymus and enables separation of the mechanisms controlling Treg production and thymic recirculation. |
