Maintenance of a normal thymic microenvironment and T-cell homeostasis require Smad4-mediated signaling in thymic epithelial cells.

Journal article

Signals mediated by the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily of growth factors have been implicated in thymic epithelial cell (TEC) differentiation, homeostasis, and function, but a direct reliance on these signals has not been established. Here we demonstrate that a block in canonical transforming growth factor-beta signaling by the loss of Smad4 expression in TECs leads to qualitative changes in TEC function and a progressively disorganized thymic microenvironment. Moreover, the numb...

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Authors: Jeker, LT; Barthlott, T; Keller, M; Zuklys, S; Hauri-Hohl, M

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Blood
• Volume: 112
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 3688-3695
• Publication date: 2008-11-01
• DOI: 10.1182/blood-2008-04-150532
• EISSN: 1528-0020
• ISSN: 0006-4971
• Language: English
• Keywords: Mice, Mutant Strains; Transcription, Genetic; DNA, Complementary; Male; T-Lymphocytes; Mice, Transgenic; Signal Transduction; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Smad4 Protein; Female; Base Sequence; Mice; Epithelial Cells; Pregnancy; Animals; Chemokines; Thymus Gland; Homeostasis