Thymic epithelial miR-155 promotes regulatory T cell development through safeguarding medullary thymic epithelial cell maturation

• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.204.supp.62.1
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01T14:39:56Z
• Authors: Jiayi Dong; Lindsey M Warner; Ling-Li Lin; Mei-Chi Chen; Ryan M O’Connell; Li-Fan Lu
• Keywords: Thymic involution; Central tolerance; Regulatory T cell; Thymocyte; Lymphopoiesis

Abstract During thymocyte development, medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) provide appropriate instructive cues in the microenvironment for not only negative selection but also generation of regulatory T (Treg) cells. Here, we identify that miR-155, a microRNA whose expression Treg has previously been shown to be crucial their development and homeostasis, contributes (tTreg) cell differentiation by promoting mTEC maturation. Mechanistically, show RANKL stimulation induces miR-155 safeguard medulla through targeting multiple known uncharacterized molecules within TGFβ signaling pathway, which is recognized its role restricting maturation expansion mTECs. Our work uncovers miR-155-TGFβ axis determine maturity and, consequently, quantity tTreg suggests ensures proper both cell-intrinsic -extrinsic manners.