title: Development and function of cortical thymic epithelial cells.
abstract: The thymic cortex provides a microenvironment that supports the generation and T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-mediated selection of CD4(+)CD8(+)TCRαβ(+) thymocytes. Cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs) are the essential component that forms the architecture of the thymic cortex and induces the generation as well as the selection of newly generated T cells. Here we summarize current knowledge on the development, function, and heterogeneity of cTECs, focusing on the expression and function of β5t, a cTEC-specific subunit of the thymoproteasome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute for Genome Research, University of Tokushima, 3-18-15 Kuramoto, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ohigashi
authors.forename: Michiyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakase
authors.forename: Yousuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000502:physiology; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000032:analysis; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D015851:Interleukin-7; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C520308:PSMB11 protein, human; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex