Inhibins are the major activin ligands expressed during early thymocyte development
Inhibins are the major activin ligands expressed during early thymocyte development
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DOI：
10.1002/dvdy.20707
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发表时间：
2006-04-01
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
Soldevila, G
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Licona, P;Chimal-Monroy, J;Soldevila, G
激活素是转化生长因子-β超家族的成员，调节细胞分化过程。在这里，我们首次对激活素/抑制素配体、I型和II型受体以及Smad蛋白在胎儿(E14-E16)和成人胸腺亚群中的表达进行了定量分析。我们的数据显示，Alk4、ActRIIA、ActRIIB和Smads 2、3和4在胎儿胸腺(E14>；E15>；E16)和成年小鼠胸腺细胞(主要是双阴性[dN]亚群)中表达。配体表达分析表明，βA、βB和α亚基主要存在于胸腺基质细胞中。有趣的是，与βA和βB亚基相比，α亚基的表达水平要高得多，这首次证明了抑制素在T细胞早期发育过程中作为重要介质的潜在作用。我们的数据表明，激活素/抑制素信号可以调节胸腺器官发生和胸腺细胞早期分化的过程，这一点已经在转化生长因子-β超家族的其他成员中得到了证实。
Activins are members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) superfamily, which regulate cell differentiation processes. Here we report the first quantitative analysis of the expression of Activin/Inhibin ligands, type I and II receptors, as well as Smad proteins in fetal (E14-E16) and adult thymic subpopulations. Our data showed that Alk4, ActRIIA, ActRIIB, and Smads 2, 3, and 4, are expressed in fetal thymus (E14 > E15 > E16) and in thymocytes from adult mice (mostly in the double negative [DN] subpopulation). Ligand expression analysis showed that beta A, beta B, and alpha subunits were mainly detected in thymic stromal cells. Interestingly, alpha subunits were expressed at much higher levels compared to beta A and beta B subunits, demonstrating for the first time the potential role of Inhibins as important mediators during early T cell development. Our data indicate that Activin/Inhibin signaling could regulate the process of thymus organogenesis and early thymocyte differentiation, as it has been demonstrated for other members of the TGF-beta superfamily.