Identification of stage-specific gene modulation during early thymocyte development by whole-genome profiling analysis after aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, implicated as an important modulator of the immune system and of early thymocyte development. We have shown previously that AHR activation by the environmental contaminant and potent AHR agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) leads to a significant decline in the percentage of S-phase cells in the CD3(-)CD4(-)CD8(-) triple-negative stage (TN) 3 and TN4 T-cell committed thymocytes 9 to 12 h after exposure. In the more immature TN1- or TN2-stage cells, no effect on cell cycle was observed. To identify early molecular targets, which could provide insight into how the AHR acts as a modulator of thymocyte development and cell cycle regulation, we performed gene-profiling experiments using RNA isolated from four intrathymic progenitor populations in which the AHR was activated for 6 or 12 h. This microarray analysis of AHR activation identified 108 distinct gene probes that were significantly modulated in the TN1-4 thymocyte progenitor stages. Although most of the genes identified have specific AHR recognition sequences, only seven genes were altered exclusively in the two T-cell committed stages of early thymocyte development (TN3 and TN4) in which the decline of S-phase cells is seen. Moreover, all seven of these genes were reduced in expression, and five of the seven are associated with cell cycle regulatory processes. These seven genes are novel targets for modulation by the TCDD-activated AHR and may be involved in the observed cell-cycle arrest and suppression of early thymocyte development.
Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA. laiosa@uwm.ed
Michael D
MD
Laiosa
Jeffrey H
JH
Mills
Zhi-Wei
ZW
Lai
Kameshwar P
KP
Singh
Frank A
FA
Middleton
Thomas A
TA
Gasiewicz
Allen E
AE
Silverstone
D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000235:genetics; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA