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- Title
TOX: an HMG box protein implicated in the regulation of thymocyte selection.
- Authors
Wilkinson, Beverley; Chen, Jeff Y.-F.; Han, Peggy; Rufner, Kevin M.; Goularte, Olivia D.; Kaye, Jonathan
- Abstract
In the thymus, pre-T cell receptor (pre-TCR)?mediated signaling and then TCR-mediated signaling initiate changes in gene expression that result in the maturation of CD4 and CD8 lineage T cells from common precursors. Using gene chip technology, we isolated a murine gene, designated Tox, that encodes a member of the HMG (high-mobility group) box family of DNA-binding proteins. TOX expression is up-regulated by both pre-TCR and TCR activation of immature thymocytes but not by TCR activation of mature naïve T cells. Transgenic mice that express TOX show expanded CD8+ and reduced CD4+ single positive thymocyte subpopulations. We present evidence here that this phenotype results from a perturbation in lineage commitment due to reduced sensitivity to TCR-mediated signaling. This molecular marker of thymic selection events may therefore play a role in establishing the activation threshold of developing T cells and patterning changes in gene expression.
- Subjects
PROTEINS; T cell receptors; IMMUNOLOGY
- Publication
Nature Immunology, 2002, Vol 3, Issue 3, p272
- ISSN
1529-2908
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/ni767