title: mTORC2 in Thymic Epithelial Cells Controls Thymopoiesis and T Cell Development.
abstract: Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play important roles in T cell generation. Mechanisms that control TEC development and function are still not well defined. The mammalian or mechanistic target of rapamycin complex (mTORC)2 signals to regulate cell survival, nutrient uptake, and metabolism. We report in the present study that mice with TEC-specific ablation of Rictor, a critical and unique adaptor molecule in mTORC2, display thymic atrophy, which accompanies decreased TEC numbers in the medulla. Moreover, generation of multiple T cell lineages, including conventional TCRαβ T cells, regulatory T cells, invariant NKT cells, and TCRγδ T cells, was reduced in TEC-specific Rictor-deficient mice. Our data demonstrate that mTORC2 in TECs is important for normal thymopoiesis and efficient T cell generation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710;
authors.forename: Hong-Xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710; Pre-Med (BS/MD) Health Scholar Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19222;
authors.forename: Joyce S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710;
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2164-2016
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; xiaoping.zhong@duke.edu qiuyuronggz@126.com.
authors.forename: Yu-Rong
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710; Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710; and Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapies Program, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 xiaoping.zhong@duke.edu qiuyuronggz@126.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4619-8783
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D038041:Lymphopoiesis; D000076225:Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000076226:Rapamycin-Insensitive Companion of mTOR Protein; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D000076226:Rapamycin-Insensitive Companion of mTOR Protein; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; C525637:rictor protein, mouse; D000076225:Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases