Thymic Epithelial Cells Contribute to Thymopoiesis and T Cell Development

Frontiers in Immunology

Wenrong Pan¹  Liang Tan²  Xiao-Ping Zhong³  Jing He⁴  Lei Zheng⁴  Pingfeng Feng⁴  Yu-Rong Qiu⁴  Zhanfeng Liang⁵  Yong Zhao⁵  Hong-Xia Wang⁵ 

[1] Department of General Surgery, Taihe Branch of Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China;Department of Urological Organ Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China;Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States;Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China;State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China;

关键词: thymic epithelial cells (TECs);    medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs);    thymopoiesis;    tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs);    tolerance;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fimmu.2019.03099

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The thymus is the primary lymphoid organ responsible for the generation and maturation of T cells. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) account for the majority of thymic stromal components. They are further divided into cortical and medullary TECs based on their localization within the thymus and are involved in positive and negative selection, respectively. Establishment of self-tolerance in the thymus depends on promiscuous gene expression (pGE) of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) by TECs. Such pGE is co-controlled by the autoimmune regulator (Aire) and forebrain embryonic zinc fingerlike protein 2 (Fezf2). Over the past two decades, research has found that TECs contribute greatly to thymopoiesis and T cell development. In turn, signals from T cells regulate the differentiation and maturation of TECs. Several signaling pathways essential for the development and maturation of TECs have been discovered. New technology and animal models have provided important observations on TEC differentiation, development, and thymopoiesis. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in classification, development, and maintenance of TECs and mechanisms that control TEC functions during thymic involution and central tolerance.

【 授权许可】

Unknown