Differential gene expression in CD3e- and RAG1-deficient thymuses: definition of a set of genes potentially involved in thymocyte maturation |
| |
Authors: | A Carrier C Nguyen G Victorero S Granjeaud D Rocha K Bernard A Miazek P Ferrier M Malissen P Naquet B Malissen B R Jordan |
| |
Institution: | (1) Centre d'Immunologie INSERM-CNRS de Marseille-Luminy, Case 906, F-13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France e-mail: carrier@ciml.univ-mrs.fr Tel.: +33-4-91269477 Fax: +33-4-91269430, FR |
| |
Abstract: | A set of 3000 mouse thymus cDNAs was analyzed by extensive measurement of expression using complex-probe hybridization of
DNA arrays ("quantitative differential screening"). The complex probes were initially prepared using total thymus RNA isolated
from C57BL/6 wild-type (WT), CD3e- and RAG1-deficient mice. Over 100 clones displaying over- or under-expression by at least
a factor of two between WT and knockout (KO) thymuses were further analyzed by measuring hybridization signatures with probes
from a wide range of KO thymuses, cell types, organs, and embryonic thymuses. A restricted set of clones was selected by virtue
of their expression spectra (modulation in KO thymuses and thymocytes, lymphoid cell specificity, and differential expression
during embryonic thymus development), sequenced at one extremity, and compared to sequences in databases. Clones corresponding
to previously identified genes (e.g., Tcrβ, Tcf1 or CD25) showed expression patterns that were consistent with existing data. Ten distinct clones corresponding to new genes were
subjected to further study: Northern blot hybridization, in situ hybridization on thymus sections, and partial or complete
mRNA sequence determination. Among these genes, we report a new serine peptidase highly expressed in cortical epithelial cells
that we have named thymus-specific serine peptidase (TSSP), and an acidic protein expressed in thymocytes and of unknown function
that we have named thymus-expressed acidic protein (TEAP). This approach identifies new molecules likely to be involved in
thymocyte differentiation and function.
Received: 3 June 1999 / Revised: 3 August 1999 |
| |
Keywords: | Thymus T lymphocytes Gene regulation Chemokines Thymic stroma |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|