Increased TCR signal strength in DN thymocytes promotes development of gut TCRαβ⁽⁺⁾CD8αα⁽⁺⁾ intraepithelial lymphocytes.

ABSTRACT: CD4⁽⁺⁾CD8⁽⁺⁾ "double positive" (DP) thymocytes differentiate into diverse αβ T cell sub-types using mechanistically distinct programs. For example, conventional αβ T cells develop from DP cells after partial-agonist T cell receptor (TCR) interactions with self-peptide/MHC, whereas unconventional αβ T cells, such as TCRαβ⁽⁺⁾CD8αα⁽⁺⁾ intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), require full-agonist TCR interactions. Despite this, DP cells appear homogeneous, and it remains unclear how distinct TCR signalling instructs distinct developmental outcomes. Moreover, whether TCR signals at earlier stages of development, for example in CD4^(-)CD8^(-) double negative (DN) cells, impact on later fate decisions is presently unknown. Here, we assess

SUBMITTER: Grandjean CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5587556 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature