title: Obligatory role for cooperative signaling by pre-TCR and Notch during thymocyte differentiation.
abstract: The first checkpoint during T cell development, known as beta selection, requires the successful rearrangement of the TCR-beta gene locus. Notch signaling has been implicated in various stages during T lymphopoiesis. However, it is unclear whether Notch receptor-ligand interactions are necessary during beta selection. Here, we show that pre-TCR signaling concurrent with Notch receptor and Delta-like-1 ligand interactions are required for the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of mouse CD4(-)CD8(-) thymocytes to the CD4(+)CD8(+) stage. Furthermore, we address the minimal signaling requirements underlying beta selection and show a hierarchical positioning of key proximal signaling molecules. Collectively, our results demonstrate an essential role for Notch receptor-ligand interactions in enabling the autonomous signaling capacity of the pre-TCR complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciofani
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciofani
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Michie
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cuburu
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aublin
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Maryanski
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zúñiga-Pflücker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D005333:Fetus; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D019674:Genes, T-Cell Receptor beta / Q000502:physiology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017252:CD3 Complex; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D051880:Receptors, Notch; C064655:V(D)J recombination activating protein 2; C064045:delta protein; C090377:pre-T cell receptor alpha