| First Author | Haljasorg U | Year | 2017 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 198 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 1952-1960 |
| PubMed ID | 28108558 | Mgi Jnum | J:247862 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5926043 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.1601698 |
| Citation | Haljasorg U, et al. (2017) Irf4 Expression in Thymic Epithelium Is Critical for Thymic Regulatory T Cell Homeostasis. J Immunol 198(5):1952-1960 |
| abstractText | The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ required for the induction and maintenance of central tolerance. The main function of the thymus is to generate an immunocompetent set of T cells not reactive to self. During negative selection in the thymus, thymocytes with autoreactive potential are either deleted or differentiated into regulatory T cells (Tregs). The molecular basis by which the thymus allows high-efficiency Treg induction remains largely unknown. In this study, we report that IFN regulatory factor 4 (Irf4) is highly expressed in murine thymic epithelium and is required to prime thymic epithelial cells (TEC) for effective Treg induction. TEC-specific Irf4 deficiency resulted in a significantly reduced thymic Treg compartment and increased susceptibility to mononuclear infiltrations in the salivary gland. We propose that Irf4 is imperative for thymic Treg homeostasis because it regulates TEC-specific expression of several chemokines and costimulatory molecules indicated in thymocyte development and Treg induction. |
