The thymus is essential for T-cell development. The transcription factor Foxn1 plays an important role in the development and function of thymic epithelial cells （TECs） in vertebrates. However, the transcriptional r...The thymus is essential for T-cell development. The transcription factor Foxn1 plays an important role in the development and function of thymic epithelial cells （TECs） in vertebrates. However, the transcriptional regulation and expression pattern of Foxn1 in pig is not known. Here, the complete sequence of pig Foxn1 was sequenced. Sequence analysis showed that the pig Foxn1 gene was 14 730 bp in length. Its cDNA full coding sequence （CDS） consisted of 1 941 bp nucleotides that encoded a 646-amino acid polypeptide. Its amino acid sequence comprised a conserved forkhead 3 domain spanning amino acids 269-365. Phylogenetic reconstruction of the Foxn1 nucleotide sequence of the pig and other species revealed that the pig Foxn1 gene was closely related to the sheep and cattle Foxn1 genes. Foxn1 gene was conserved in mammals. RT-PCR analysis showed that Foxn1 was only expressed in the thymus, skin and tongue, but not in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, adrenal gland, subcutaneous fat, longissimus dorsi, large intestine, small intestine, stomach, mesenteric lymph node, throat and ovary. These fndings indicated that the expression pattern of Foxn1 was tissue-specifc.展开更多
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are one of the most important components in thymic microenvironment supporting thymocyte development and maturation. TECs, composed of cortical and medullary TECs, are derived from a com...Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are one of the most important components in thymic microenvironment supporting thymocyte development and maturation. TECs, composed of cortical and medullary TECs, are derived from a common bipotent progenitor, mediating thymocyte positive and negative selections. Multiple levels of signals including intracellular signaling networks and cell-cell interaction are required for TEC development and differentiation. Transcription factors Foxn1 and autoimmune regulator (Aire) are powerful regulators promoting TEC development and differentiation. Crosstalks with thymocytes and other stromal cells for extrinsic signals like RANKL, CD40L, lymphotoxin, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and Wnt are also definitely required to establish a functional thymic microenvironment. In this review, we will summarize our current understanding about TEC development and differentiation, and its underlying multiple signal pathways.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Science and Technology Planning Project of"the 12th Five-year"in Rural Areas(2015BAD03B02-5)the National Nature Science Foundation of China Under Grant(31301955)+1 种基金Modern Agricultural Technology System(CARS-36)Innovation Ability Raise of Scientific Research Institution in Heilongjiang Province(YC2016D001)
文摘The thymus is essential for T-cell development. The transcription factor Foxn1 plays an important role in the development and function of thymic epithelial cells （TECs） in vertebrates. However, the transcriptional regulation and expression pattern of Foxn1 in pig is not known. Here, the complete sequence of pig Foxn1 was sequenced. Sequence analysis showed that the pig Foxn1 gene was 14 730 bp in length. Its cDNA full coding sequence （CDS） consisted of 1 941 bp nucleotides that encoded a 646-amino acid polypeptide. Its amino acid sequence comprised a conserved forkhead 3 domain spanning amino acids 269-365. Phylogenetic reconstruction of the Foxn1 nucleotide sequence of the pig and other species revealed that the pig Foxn1 gene was closely related to the sheep and cattle Foxn1 genes. Foxn1 gene was conserved in mammals. RT-PCR analysis showed that Foxn1 was only expressed in the thymus, skin and tongue, but not in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, adrenal gland, subcutaneous fat, longissimus dorsi, large intestine, small intestine, stomach, mesenteric lymph node, throat and ovary. These fndings indicated that the expression pattern of Foxn1 was tissue-specifc.
基金supported by grants from the National Basic Research Program(973 Program)(Nos.2010CB945301,and 2011CB710903,Y.Z.)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.C81072396 and U0832003,Y.Z.).
文摘Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are one of the most important components in thymic microenvironment supporting thymocyte development and maturation. TECs, composed of cortical and medullary TECs, are derived from a common bipotent progenitor, mediating thymocyte positive and negative selections. Multiple levels of signals including intracellular signaling networks and cell-cell interaction are required for TEC development and differentiation. Transcription factors Foxn1 and autoimmune regulator (Aire) are powerful regulators promoting TEC development and differentiation. Crosstalks with thymocytes and other stromal cells for extrinsic signals like RANKL, CD40L, lymphotoxin, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and Wnt are also definitely required to establish a functional thymic microenvironment. In this review, we will summarize our current understanding about TEC development and differentiation, and its underlying multiple signal pathways.
