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Transcriptional control of thymocyte positive selection

  • Immunology at Emory University
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Abstract

Thymocyte development proceeds through multiple regulated chekpoints to ensure that the mature T-cell population is useful for recognition of self major histocompatiblity complex (MHC) molecules, but not overtly autoreactive. Developing cells pass the positive selection checkpoint when the T-cell receptor (TCR) on immature thymocytes engages self peptide/MHC with low affinity. The resulting signal transduction inititates migration, survival, maturation, allelic exclusion, and lineage commitment. The changes in gene expression necessary for all of these cellular events are controlled by transcription factors responsive to signals in immature thymocytes. Recent progress has defined a small group of transcription factors that can be clearly linked to regulation of gene expression during positive selection.

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  1. Gilbert J. Kersh Ph.D.

    Present address: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 101 Woodruff Circle, Rm. 7311, Memorial Building, 30322, Atlanta, GA

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    Kersh, G.J. Transcriptional control of thymocyte positive selection. Immunol Res 29, 125–137 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1385/IR:29:1-3:125

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