PLX306849

GSE144722: Transcriptomic analysis of thymic epithelial cells and extra thymic epithelial cells

• Organsim mouse
• Type RNASEQ
• Target gene
• Project ARCHS4

Regulation of MHC I expression has been studied almost exclusively in hematolymphoid cells. We report that thymic epithelial cells (TECs), particularly in the medulla (mTECs), constitutively express up to 100-fold more cell surface MHC I proteins than epithelial cells (ECs) from the skin, colon and lung. Differential abundance of cell surface MHC I in primary ECs is regulated via transcription of MHC I and of genes implicated in the generation of MHC I-binding peptides. Superior MHC I expression in TECs is unaffected by deletion of Ifnar1 or Ifngr1, but is lessened by deletion of Aire, Ifnlr1, Stat1 or Nlrc5, and is driven mainly by type III IFN produced by mTECs. Ifnlr1/ mice show impaired negative selection of CD8 thymocytes, and at 9 months of age, present autoimmune manifestations. Our study shows unanticipated variation in MHC I expression by ECs from various sites and provides compelling evidence that superior expression of MHC I in TECs is crucial for proper thymocyte education. SOURCE: Claude Perreault (claude.perreault@umontreal.ca) - Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer