An Essential Role for Nuclear Factor κB in Promoting Double Positive Thymocyte Apoptosis
To examine the role of nuclear factor (NF)-κB in T cell development and activation in vivo, we produced transgenic mice that express a superinhibitory mutant form of inhibitor κB-α (IκB-αA32/36) under the control of the T cell–specific CD2 promoter and enhancer (mutant [m]IκB-α mice). Thymocyte deve...
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Veröffentlicht in: | The Journal of experimental medicine 1999-01, Vol.189 (1), p.145-158 |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | To examine the role of nuclear factor (NF)-κB in T cell development and activation in vivo, we produced transgenic mice that express a superinhibitory mutant form of inhibitor κB-α (IκB-αA32/36) under the control of the T cell–specific CD2 promoter and enhancer (mutant [m]IκB-α mice). Thymocyte development proceeded normally in the mIκB-α mice. However, the numbers of peripheral CD8+ T cells were significantly reduced in these animals. The mIκB-α thymocytes displayed a marked proliferative defect and significant reductions in interleukin (IL)-2, IL-3, and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor production after cross-linking of the T cell antigen receptor. Perhaps more unexpectedly, double positive (CD4+CD8+; DP) thymocytes from the mIκB-α mice were resistant to α-CD3–mediated apoptosis in vivo. In contrast, they remained sensitive to apoptosis induced by γ-irradiation. Apoptosis of wild-type DP thymocytes after in vivo administration of α-CD3 mAb was preceded by a significant reduction in the level of expression of the antiapoptotic gene, bcl-xL. In contrast, the DP mIκB-α thymocytes maintained high level expression of bcl-xL after α-CD3 treatment. Taken together, these results demonstrated important roles for NF-κB in both inducible cytokine expression and T cell proliferation after TCR engagement. In addition, NF-κB is required for the α-CD3–mediated apoptosis of DP thymocytes through a pathway that involves the regulation of the antiapoptotic gene, bcl-xL. |
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ISSN: | 0022-1007 1540-9538 |
DOI: | 10.1084/jem.189.1.145 |