title: ZFAT plays critical roles in peripheral T cell homeostasis and its T cell receptor-mediated response.
abstract: ZFAT, originally identified as a candidate susceptibility gene for autoimmune thyroid disease, has been reported to be involved in apoptosis, development and primitive hematopoiesis. Zfat is highly expressed in T- and B-cells in the lymphoid tissues, however, its physiological function in the immune system remains totally unknown. Here, we generated the T cell-specific Zfat-deficient mice and demonstrated that Zfat-deficiency leads to a remarkable reduction in the number of the peripheral T cells. Intriguingly, a reduced expression of IL-7Rα and the impaired responsiveness to IL-7 for the survival were observed in the Zfat-deficient T cells. Furthermore, a severe defect in proliferation and increased apoptosis in the Zfat-deficient T cells following T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation was observed with a reduced IL-2Rα expression as well as a reduced IL-2 production. Thus, our findings reveal that Zfat is a critical regulator in peripheral T cell homeostasis and its TCR-mediated response.
authors: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Keiko
authors: K
authors: Doi
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Fujimoto
authors: Tadashi
authors: T
authors: Okamura
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Ogawa
authors: Yoko
authors: Y
authors: Tanaka
authors: Yasumasa
authors: Y
authors: Mototani
authors: Motohito
authors: M
authors: Goto
authors: Takeharu
authors: T
authors: Ota
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Matsuzaki
authors: Masahide
authors: M
authors: Kuroki
authors: Toshiyuki
authors: T
authors: Tsunoda
authors: Takehiko
authors: T
authors: Sasazuki
authors: Senji
authors: S
authors: Shirasawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology*; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015851:Interleukin-7; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; D014157:Transcription Factors; C529571:ZFAT protein, mouse; C415350:interleukin-7 receptor, alpha chain