CCR7-mediated migration of developing thymocytes to the medulla is essential for negative selection to tissue-restricted antigens

Item Type:	Article
Title:	CCR7-mediated migration of developing thymocytes to the medulla is essential for negative selection to tissue-restricted antigens
Creators Name:	Nitta, T. and Nitta, S. and Lei, Y. and Lipp, M. and Takahama, Y.
Abstract:	Immature double-positive thymocytes are generated in the thymic cortex, and on positive selection, are induced to differentiate into mature single-positive thymocytes and relocate to the medulla. CCR7 is pivotal for cortex-to-medulla migration of positively selected thymocytes, and CCR7-mediated migration to the medulla is essential for establishing central tolerance, thereby, preventing tissue-specific autoimmunity. However, it was unclear how CCR7-mediated migration to the medulla affects the establishment of self-tolerance. Here, we show that the deletion of thymocytes specific for insulin-promoter-driven tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) is significantly impaired in CCR7- or CCR7-ligand-deficient mice. These results indicate that CCR7-mediated migration to the medulla contributes to the negative selection of TRA-reactive thymocytes.
Keywords:	Chemokine, Self-Tolerance, Thymic Medulla, Thymic Epithelial Cell, Animals, Mice
Source:	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
ISSN:	0027-8424
Publisher:	National Academy of Sciences
Volume:	106
Number:	40
Page Range:	17129-17133
Date:	6 October 2009
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0906956106
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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