Multiple developmental stage-specific enhancers regulate CD8 expression in developing thymocytes and in thymus-independent T cells.
We and others have recently identified a CD8 locus enhancer (E8) that directs expression in mature CD8 single-positive thymocytes and peripheral CD8+ T cells and in extrathymically derived intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL). In this study, we show that deletion of E8, by homologous recombination results in reduced CD8alphaalpha homodimer expression on IEL. Since CD8 expression on thymus-derived T cells was normal, other enhancers regulate CD8 expression in these cells. By exploiting a transgenic reporter expression assay, we identified three additional enhancers that directed expression in diverse thymocyte subsets and mature T cells but not in CD8alphaalpha+ IEL. The results suggest that CD8alpha expression is primarily regulated by E8, in IEL and by the novel enhancers in the thymus-dependent lineages.
Ellmeier
W
W
Molecular Pathogenesis Program, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York 10016, USA. ellmeier@saturn.med.nyu.edu
Sunshine
M J
MJ
Losos
K
K
Littman
D R
DR
D000818:Animals; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004064:Digestive System / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D019281:Dimerization; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D016827:CD8 Antigens