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T-cell differentiation is governed by interactions with thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and defects in this process undermine immune function and tolerance. To uncover new strategies to restore thymic function and adaptive immunity in immunodeficiency, we sought to determine the molecular mechanisms that control life and death decisions in TECs. Guided by gene expression profiling, we created mouse models that specifically deleted prosurvival genes in TECs. We found that although BCL-2 and BCL-XL were dispensable for TEC homeostasis, MCL-1 deficiency impacted on TECs as early as embryonic day 15.5, resulting in early thymic atrophy and T-cell lymphopenia, with near complete loss of thymic tissue by 2 months of age. MCL-1 was not necessary for TEC differentiation but was continually required for the survival of mature cortical and medullary TECs and the maintenance of thymic architecture. A screen of TEC trophic factors in organ cultures showed that epidermal growth factor upregulated MCL-1 via MAPK/ERK kinase activity, providing a molecular mechanism for the support of TEC survival. This signaling axis governing TEC survival and thymic function represents a new target for strategies for thymic protection and regeneration.

Original publication

DOI

10.1182/blood-2017-03-771576

Type

Journal article

Journal

Blood

Publication Date

07/12/2017

Volume

130

Pages

2504 - 2515

Keywords

Animals, Cell Differentiation, Cell Survival, Epidermal Growth Factor, Epithelial Cells, Female, Gene Expression, Gene Expression Profiling, Gene Expression Regulation, Gene Knockdown Techniques, Homeostasis, Immunophenotyping, Lymphopenia, Male, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2, T-Lymphocyte Subsets, Thymocytes, Thymus Gland, bcl-X Protein