The critical role of LIGHT, a TNF family member, in T cell development.
Negative selection refers to the selective deletion of autoreactive thymocytes but its molecular events have not been well defined. In this study, we demonstrate that a cellular ligand for herpes virus entry mediator and lymphotoxin receptor (LIGHT), a newly identified member of the TNF superfamily, may play a critical role in negative selection. Using TCR transgenic mice, we find that the blockade of LIGHT signaling in vitro and in vivo prevents negative selection induced by peptide and intrathymically expressed Ags, resulting in the rescue of thymocytes from apoptosis. Furthermore, the thymi of LIGHT transgenic mice show severe atrophy with remarkably reduced CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive cells caused by increased apoptosis, suggesting that LIGHT can delete immature T cells in vivo. Taken together, these results demonstrate a critical role of LIGHT in thymic negative selection of the T cell repertoire.
Wang
J
J
Department of Pathology and Committee on Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Chun
T
T
Lo
J C
JC
Wu
Q
Q
Wang
Y
Y
Foster
A
A
Roca
K
K
Chen
M
M
Tamada
K
K
Chen
L
L
Wang
C R
CR
Fu
Y X
YX
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology; D053326:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 14; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology*
C051256:H-Y antibody; D007518:Isoantibodies; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C505915:Tnfsf14 protein, mouse; D053326:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 14; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha