151
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Stewart CA, Walzer T, Robbins SH, Malissen B, Vivier E, Prinz I. Germ-line and rearranged Tcrd transcription distinguish bona fide NK cells and NK-like gammadelta T cells. Eur J Immunol 2007; 37:1442-52. [PMID: 17492716 DOI: 10.1002/eji.200737354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
NK cells and gammadelta T cells are distinct subsets of lymphocytes that contextually share multiple phenotypic and functional characteristics. However, the acquisition and the extent of these similarities remain poorly understood. Here, using T cell receptor delta locus-histone 2B-enhanced GFP (Tcrd-H2BEGFP) reporter mice, we show that germ-line transcription of Tcrd occurs in all maturing NK cells. We also describe a population of mouse NK-like cells that are indistinguishable from "bona fide" NK cells using standard protocols. Requirements for V(D)J recombination and a functional thymus, along with very low-level expression of surface TCRgammadelta but high intracellular CD3, define these cells as gammadelta T cells. "NK-like gammadelta T cells" are CD127+, have a memory-activated phenotype, express multiple NK cell receptors and readily produce interferon-gamma in response to IL-12/IL-18 stimulation. The close phenotypic resemblance between NK cells and NK-like gammadelta T cells is a source of experimental ambiguity in studies bridging NK and T cell biology, such as those on thymic NK cell development. Instead, it ascribes chronic TCRgammadelta engagement as a means of acquiring NK-like function.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics
- Animals
- Antigens, Surface/metabolism
- Bone Marrow Cells/cytology
- Bone Marrow Cells/immunology
- Bone Marrow Cells/metabolism
- CD3 Complex/genetics
- CD3 Complex/metabolism
- Cell Lineage/immunology
- Cytokines/pharmacology
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics
- Gene Expression
- Gene Rearrangement, delta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
- Histones/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Immunophenotyping
- Integrin alpha2/metabolism
- Interferon-gamma/metabolism
- Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit/analysis
- Killer Cells, Natural/cytology
- Killer Cells, Natural/drug effects
- Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism
- Lectins, C-Type/metabolism
- Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1/metabolism
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Nude
- Mice, Transgenic
- NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B
- Phosphoproteins/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/cytology
- T-Lymphocytes/drug effects
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles A Stewart
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Université de la Méditerranée, and Service d'Immunologie, Hôpital de Conception, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, France.
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152
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Jia J, Kondo M, Zhuang Y. Germline transcription from T-cell receptor Vbeta gene is uncoupled from allelic exclusion. EMBO J 2007; 26:2387-99. [PMID: 17410206 PMCID: PMC1864970 DOI: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2006] [Accepted: 03/05/2007] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Allelic exclusion operates in B and T lymphocytes to ensure clonal expression of antigen receptors after V(D)J recombination. Germline transcription, which proceeds V(D)J recombination, has been postulated to provide an instructive signal for allelic exclusion. Here, we use a genetic marker to track germline transcription from a Vbeta gene within the TCRbeta locus. We find that developing thymocytes exhibit uniformed, bi-allelic activation of the Vbeta gene before V-DJ recombination, a process subject to allelic exclusion. We further show that V-DJ rearrangement promotes activation rather than silencing of germline transcription from the remaining Vbeta genes on either the functionally or non-functionally rearranged chromosome. Results presented here suggest that germline transcription, although necessary for V(D)J recombination, is not sufficient to instruct allelic exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingquan Jia
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Motonari Kondo
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yuan Zhuang
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3010, Jones 329, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Tel.: +1 919 613 7824; Fax: +1 919 613 7853; E-mail:
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153
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Hayday AC, Pennington DJ. Key factors in the organized chaos of early T cell development. Nat Immunol 2007; 8:137-44. [PMID: 17242687 DOI: 10.1038/ni1436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2006] [Accepted: 12/12/2006] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
A fundamental issue in T cell development is what controls whether a thymocyte differentiates into a gammadelta T cell or an alphabeta T cell, each defined by their distinct T cell receptor. Most likely, lessons learned in studying that issue will also provide insight into how the thymus produces T cell subsets with distinct functional and regulatory potentials. Here we review recent experiments, focusing on three factors that regulate thymocyte differentiation up to and including the expression of the first products of antigen receptor gene rearrangements. Those factors are the archetypal developmental regulator Notch, intrinsic signals emanating from antigen-receptor complexes, and trans conditioning, which reflects communication between different subsets of thymocytes. We also review new findings on the positive selection of gammadelta T cells and on extrathymic T cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian C Hayday
- King's College School of Medicine at Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
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154
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Melichar H, Kang J. Integrated morphogen signal inputs in gammadelta versus alphabeta T-cell differentiation. Immunol Rev 2007; 215:32-45. [PMID: 17291277 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-065x.2006.00469.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Morphogens, a class of secreted proteins that regulate gene expression in a concentration-dependent manner, are responsible for directing nearly all lineage fate choices during embryogenesis. In the thymus, morphogen signal pathways consisting of WNT, Hedgehog, and the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily are active and have been implicated in various developmental processes including proliferation, survival, and differentiation of maturing thymocytes. Intriguingly, it has been inferred that some of these morphogen signal pathways differentially affect gammadelta and alphabeta T-cell development or maintenance, but their role in T-cell lineage commitment has not been directly probed. We have recently identified a modulator of morphogen signaling that significantly influences binary gammadelta versus alphabeta T-cell lineage diversification. In this review, we summarize functions of morphogens in the thymus and provide a highly speculative model of integrated morphogen signals, potentially directing the gammadelta versus alphabeta T-cell fate determination process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Melichar
- Department of Pathology University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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155
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Garbe AI, von Boehmer H. TCR and Notch synergize in αβ versus γδ lineage choice. Trends Immunol 2007; 28:124-31. [PMID: 17261380 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2007.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2006] [Revised: 12/15/2006] [Accepted: 01/18/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
At two checkpoints, T cell development is controlled by T cell receptor (TCR) signaling, which determines survival and lineage commitment. At the first of these checkpoints, signaling by the pre-TCR, the gammadeltaTCR or the alphabetaTCR has a major but nonexclusive impact on whether cells will become CD4-CD8- gammadelta or CD4+CD8+ alphabeta lineage cells. Pre-TCR signals synergize with moderate Notch signals to generate alphabeta lineage cells. Relatively strong signals by the gammadeltaTCR (or early expressed alphabetaTCR) in the absence of Notch signaling are sufficient to yield gammadelta lineage cells. However, relatively weak signals of the latter two receptors combined with strong Notch signaling result in the formation of alphabeta lineage cells that generate a diverse alphabetaTCR repertoire in pre-TCR-deficient mice. It remains to be determined whether TCR and/or Notch signals instruct or confirm predetermined lineage fate.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Lineage
- Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte
- Humans
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/physiology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/physiology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/physiology
- Receptors, Interleukin-7/analysis
- Receptors, Notch/physiology
- Signal Transduction/physiology
- Transgenes
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette I Garbe
- Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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156
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Narayan K, Kang J. Molecular events that regulate alphabeta versus gammadelta T cell lineage commitment: old suspects, new players and different game plans. Curr Opin Immunol 2007; 19:169-75. [PMID: 17291740 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2007.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2006] [Accepted: 01/26/2007] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The divergence of alphabeta and gammadelta T cells from a common precursor in the thymus is regulated by multiple cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic factors, most of which are not well defined. Recent studies have provided crucial data regarding the precise timing of lineage commitment and some clarification on the extent of the involvement of Notch and T-cell receptor signaling in this process. Combined with new insights into the differential regulation of molecular pathways active in alphabeta and gammadelta precursors, these data have led to the generation of a revised model of lineage commitment.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Lineage/genetics
- Lymphopoiesis/genetics
- Mice
- Multipotent Stem Cells/chemistry
- Multipotent Stem Cells/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/analysis
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/analysis
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/metabolism
- Receptors, Notch/physiology
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Thymus Gland/cytology
- Thymus Gland/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavitha Narayan
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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157
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Ferrero I, Mancini SJC, Grosjean F, Wilson A, Otten L, MacDonald HR. TCRgamma silencing during alphabeta T cell development depends upon pre-TCR-induced proliferation. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2006; 177:6038-43. [PMID: 17056529 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.177.9.6038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
During thymus development, immature T cells become committed to two distinct lineages based upon expression of alphabeta or gammadelta TCR. In the alphabeta lineage, developing thymocytes progressively extinguish transcription of the TCRgamma genes by a poorly understood process known as gamma silencing. We show that alphabeta lineage thymocytes in mice lacking a functional pre-TCR undergo limited proliferation and fail to silence TCRgamma genes during development. Stimulation of pre-TCR-deficient immature thymocytes with anti-CD3 Abs does not directly down-regulate TCRgamma transcription but restores TCRgamma silencing following proliferation. Collectively our data reveal an important role for pre-TCR induced proliferation in activating the TCRgamma silencer in alphabeta lineage thymocytes, a process that may reinforce alphabeta or gammadelta lineage commitment.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies/pharmacology
- CD3 Complex/immunology
- Cell Lineage/genetics
- Cell Proliferation
- Gene Silencing
- Mice
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/agonists
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/analysis
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/agonists
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/genetics
- Silencer Elements, Transcriptional/genetics
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/drug effects
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
- Thymus Gland/cytology
- Thymus Gland/growth & development
- Thymus Gland/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Ferrero
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research-Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
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158
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Guidos CJ. Synergy between the pre-T cell receptor and Notch: cementing the alphabeta lineage choice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 203:2233-7. [PMID: 17000868 PMCID: PMC2118108 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20060998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Notch1 signaling suppresses B cell development and promotes T lineage commitment in thymus-seeding hematopoietic progenitors. Notch1 is also activated in early T cell progenitors, but the functions of these later Notch signals have not been clearly defined. Recent studies reveal that Notch signaling is not essential for pre-T cell receptor (TCR) expression or gammadelta lineage choice. Rather, pre-TCR signaling enhances progenitor competitiveness for limiting Notch ligands, leading to preferential expansion of TCRbeta-bearing progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia J Guidos
- Program in Developmental Biology, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, and Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1L7.
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