First Author | Zuklys S | Year | 2012 |
Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 189 |
Issue | 8 | Pages | 3894-904 |
PubMed ID | 22972926 | Mgi Jnum | J:190517 |
Mgi Id | MGI:5449080 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.1200783 |
Citation | Zuklys S, et al. (2012) MicroRNAs control the maintenance of thymic epithelia and their competence for T lineage commitment and thymocyte selection. J Immunol 189(8):3894-904 |
abstractText | Thymic epithelial cells provide unique cues for the lifelong selection and differentiation of a repertoire of functionally diverse T cells. Rendered microRNA (miRNA) deficient, these stromal cells in the mouse lose their capacity to instruct the commitment of hematopoietic precursors to a T cell fate, to effect thymocyte positive selection, and to achieve promiscuous gene expression required for central tolerance induction. Over time, the microenvironment created by miRNA-deficient thymic epithelia assumes the cellular composition and structure of peripheral lymphoid tissue, where thympoiesis fails to be supported. These findings emphasize a global role for miRNA in the maintenance and function of the thymic epithelial cell scaffold and establish a novel mechanism how these cells control peripheral tissue Ag expression to prompt central immunological tolerance. |