title: Epidermal growth factor-like domain 8 inhibits the survival and proliferation of mouse thymocytes.
abstract: Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a critical role in T-cell development through their intercellular interactions and by producing various soluble proteins, such as growth factors, cytokines and chemokines. In this study, we report a new role for epidermal growth factor-like domain 8 (EGFL8) in the regulation of the survival and proliferation of mouse thymocytes. Mouse recombinant EGFL8 (rEGFL8) protein was produced using an E. coli system and its biological role in mouse thymocytes was determined. The injection of rEGFL8 in mice in vivo resulted in a decrease in the weight of the thymus, as well as in the number of total thymocytes; rEGFL8 also inhibited thymocyte proliferation and induced thymocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, rEGFL8 suppressed the expression of the Notch downstream targets, Hes1 and Hey1, in mouse thymocytes and TECs, indicating that EGFL8 negatively regulates the Notch signaling pathway in these cells. The identification of the role of EGFL8 in thymocytes may aid in the determination of the fate of thymocytes during T-cell development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do 626-870, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Fazli
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Subhan
authors.forename: Tae-Deuk
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Hee Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ikram
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Jieun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Changwan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Sae-Ock
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Sun-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Bong-Seon
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D060168:Thymocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000072056:Transcription Factor HES-1
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000072056:Transcription Factor HES-1; C494893:Egfl8 protein, mouse; C489734:Hes1 protein, mouse; C120420:Hey1 protein, mouse