p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways are essential regulators of the immune response. Particularly, p38γ and p38d regulate many immune cell functions such as cytokine production, migration, or T cell activation; however, their involvement in immune cell development is largely unknown. Here, we analysed the role of p38 MAPK isoforms p38γ and p38δ in T cell differentiation in the thymus and in lymph nodes, using mice deficient in p38γ, p38δ, or in both. We found that the T cell differentiation program in the thymus was affected at different stages in p38γ-, p38δ-, and p38γ/δ-deficient mice, and also peripheral T cell homaeostasis was compromised. Particularly, p38δ deletion affects different stages of early CD4-CD8- double-negative thymocyte development, whereas lack of p38γ favours thymocyte positive selection from CD4+CD8+ double-positive to CD4+ or CD8+ single-positive cells. Our results identify unreported functions for p38γ and p38d in T cells.
CITATION STYLE
Risco, A., Martin-Serrano, M. A., Barber, D. F., & Cuenda, A. (2018). p38γ and p38d are involved in T lymphocyte development. Frontiers in Immunology, 9(JAN). https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.00065
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