First Author | Boo K | Year | 2014 |
Journal | Biochem Biophys Res Commun | Volume | 447 |
Issue | 1 | Pages | 44-50 |
PubMed ID | 24680824 | Mgi Jnum | J:219468 |
Mgi Id | MGI:5620865 | Doi | 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.03.092 |
Citation | Boo K, et al. (2014) Pontin is required for pre-TCR signaling at the beta-selection checkpoint in T cell development. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 447(1):44-50 |
abstractText | Pontin is a chromatin remodeling factor that possesses both ATPase and DNA helicase activities. Based on high expression in lymphoid tissues, we examined whether Pontin has a T cell-specific function. We generated Pontin(f/f);Lck-Cre mice, in which Pontin can be conditionally deleted in T cells and then explored T cell-specific function of Pontin in vivo. Here, we show that specific abrogation of Pontin expression in T cells almost completely blocked development of alphabeta T cells at the beta-selection checkpoint by inducing cell apoptosis indicating that Pontin is essential for early T cell development. Pontin-deficient thymocytes show a comparable expression level of T cell receptor (TCR)beta chain, but have enhanced activation of p53 and Notch signaling compared to wild-type thymocytes. Intriguingly, the developmental block of alphabeta T cells can be partially rescued by loss of p53. Together, our data demonstrate a novel role of Pontin as a crucial regulator in pre-TCR signaling during T cell development. |