| First Author | Hsu FC | Year | 2016 |
| Journal | Sci Rep | Volume | 6 |
| Pages | 23533 | PubMed ID | 27020276 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:250919 | Mgi Id | MGI:6102747 |
| Doi | 10.1038/srep23533 | Citation | Hsu FC, et al. (2016) An Essential Role for the Transcription Factor Runx1 in T Cell Maturation. Sci Rep 6:23533 |
| abstractText | The transcription factor Runx1 has essential roles throughout hematopoiesis. Here, we demonstrate that Runx1 is critical for T cell maturation. Peripheral naive CD4(+) T cells from CD4-cre Runx1 cKO mice are phenotypically and functionally immature as shown by decreased production of TNF-alpha upon TCR stimulation. The loss of peripheral CD4(+) T cells in CD4-cre Runx1 cKO mice is not due to defects in homeostasis or decreased expression of IL-7Ralpha, as transgenic expression of IL-7Ralpha does not rescue the loss of CD4(+) T cells. Rather, immature Runx1-deficient CD4(+) T cells are eliminated in the periphery by the activation and fixation of the classical complement pathway. In the thymus, there is a severe block in all aspects of intrathymic T cell maturation, although both positive and negative selection are unaltered. Thus, loss of Runx1 leads to the earliest characterized block in post-positive selection intrathymic maturation of CD4 T cells. |
