Spatial (Tbata) expression in mature medullary thymic epithelial cells

Eur J Immunol. 2010 Feb;40(2):530-8. doi: 10.1002/eji.200939605.

Abstract

The Spatial gene is expressed in highly polarized cell types such as testis germ cells, brain neurons and thymic epithelial cells (TEC). Its expression was documented in testis and brain but poorly characterized in thymus. Here, we characterize for the first time Spatial-expressing TEC throughout ontogeny and adult mouse thymus. Spatial is expressed in thymic-fated domain by embryonic day E10.5 and persists in subcapsular, cortical, medullary epithelial cells and in MTS24(+) progenitor TEC. Using mouse strains in which thymocyte development is blocked at various stages, we show that Spatial expression is independent of thymocyte-derived signals during thymus organogenesis. Analyses on purified thymic cell subsets show that Spatial short isoforms are expressed in cortical TEC (cTEC) and mature medullary TEC (mTEC). Spatial long isoforms were detected in the same TEC population. Spatial presents a nuclear distribution specific to mature mTEC expressing UEA1 and Aire. Aire- and RANKL-deficient mice revealed that Spatial expression is drastically reduced in the thymus of these mutants. These findings reveal a critical function of Aire in regulating Spatial expression, which is compatible with promiscuous Spatial gene expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIRE Protein
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Surface / genetics
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology
  • Embryo, Mammalian / embryology
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • RANK Ligand / genetics
  • RANK Ligand / metabolism
  • Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B / genetics
  • Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction
  • Thymus Gland / embryology
  • Thymus Gland / growth & development
  • Thymus Gland / metabolism*
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Mts24 protein, mouse
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RANK Ligand
  • Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B
  • Tnfrsf11a protein, mouse
  • Tnfsf11 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • spatial protein, mouse