Gads-/- mice reveal functionally distinct subsets of TCRbeta+ CD4-CD8- double-negative thymocytes.
TCRbeta expression in CD4(-)CD8(-) double-negative (DN) thymocytes induces signaling pathways that promote survival and proliferation, as well as differentiation into CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive thymocytes. The signaling pathways that regulate survival, proliferation, and differentiation remain unclear. We used Gads-deficient mice to investigate the signaling pathways that regulate these cell fates. During this investigation, we focused on TCRbeta(+) DN thymocytes and found that there are at least three functionally distinct subsets of TCRbeta(+) DN thymocytes: TCRbeta(+) DN3E, TCRbeta(+) DN3L, and TCRbeta(+) DN4. Survival and proliferation of TCRbeta(+) DN3E were independent of Gads, but survival and proliferation of TCRbeta(+) DN3L cells were Gads dependent. Likewise, expression of Bcl-2 in TCRbeta(+) DN3E cells was Gads independent, but Gads was necessary for Bcl-2 expression in TCRbeta(+) DN3L cells. Bcl-2 expression was not dependent on Gads in TCRbeta(+) DN4 cells, but proliferation of TCRbeta(+) DN4 cells was Gads dependent. Gads was not required for the differentiation of DN thymocytes into DP thymocytes. In fact, Gads(-/-) DN3E cells differentiated into DP thymocytes more readily than wild-type cells. We conclude that signaling pathways required to initiate TCRbeta-induced survival and proliferation are distinct from the pathways that maintain survival and proliferation. Furthermore, signaling pathways that promote survival and proliferation may slow differentiation.
Zeng
Ling
L
Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
Dalheimer
Stacy L
SL
Yankee
Thomas M
TM
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; C498726:Mona protein, mouse; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta