Thymic dendritic cells (tDCs) play an important role in central tolerance by eliminating self-reactive thymocytes or differentiating them to regulatory T (Treg) cells. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying these functions are not completely understood. We found that mouse tDCs undergo maturation following cognate interaction with self-reactive CD4+ thymocytes and that this maturation is dependent on CD40 signaling. Ablation of CD40 expression in tDCs resulted in a significant reduction in the number of Treg cells in association with a significant reduction in the number of mature tDCs. In addition, CD40-deficient DCs failed to fully mature upon cognate interaction with CD4+ thymocytes in vitro and failed to differentiate them into Treg cells to a sufficient number. These findings suggest that tDCs mature and potentiate Treg cell development in feedback response to self-reactive CD4+ thymocytes.
CITATION STYLE
Oh, J., Wu, N., Barczak, A. J., Barbeau, R., Erle, D. J., & Shin, J.-S. (2018). CD40 Mediates Maturation of Thymic Dendritic Cells Driven by Self-Reactive CD4+ Thymocytes and Supports Development of Natural Regulatory T Cells. The Journal of Immunology, 200(4), 1399–1412. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.1700768
Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.