title: Thymic epithelial cell development and differentiation: cellular and molecular regulation.
abstract: Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are one of the most important components in thymic microenvironment supporting thymocyte development and maturation. TECs, composed of cortical and medullary TECs, are derived from a common bipotent progenitor, mediating thymocyte positive and negative selections. Multiple levels of signals including intracellular signaling networks and cell-cell interaction are required for TEC development and differentiation. Transcription factors Foxn1 and autoimmune regulator (Aire) are powerful regulators promoting TEC development and differentiation. Crosstalks with thymocytes and other stromal cells for extrinsic signals like RANKL, CD40L, lymphotoxin, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and Wnt are also definitely required to establish a functional thymic microenvironment. In this review, we will summarize our current understanding about TEC development and differentiation, and its underlying multiple signal pathways.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Hongran
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D060168:Thymocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors