The CCR4–NOT deadenylase complex safeguards thymic positive selection by down-regulating aberrant pro-apoptotic gene expression

  • Taku Ito-Kureha
  • , Takahisa Miyao
  • , Saori Nishijima
  • , Toru Suzuki
  • , Shin ichi Koizumi
  • , Alejandro Villar-Briones
  • , Akinori Takahashi
  • , Nobuko Akiyama
  • , Masahiro Morita
  • , Isao Naguro
  • , Hiroki Ishikawa
  • , Hidenori Ichijo
  • , Taishin Akiyama
  • , Tadashi Yamamoto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

A repertoire of T cells with diverse antigen receptors is selected in the thymus. However, detailed mechanisms underlying this thymic positive selection are not clear. Here we show that the CCR4-NOT complex limits expression of specific genes through deadenylation of mRNA poly(A) tails, enabling positive selection. Specifically, the CCR4-NOT complex is up-regulated in thymocytes before initiation of positive selection, where in turn, it inhibits up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bbc3 and Dab2ip. Elimination of the CCR4-NOT complex permits up-regulation of Bbc3 during a later stage of positive selection, inducing thymocyte apoptosis. In addition, CCR4-NOT elimination up-regulates Dab2ip at an early stage of positive selection. Thus, CCR4-NOT might control thymocyte survival during two-distinct stages of positive selection by suppressing expression levels of pro-apoptotic molecules. Taken together, we propose a link between CCR4-NOT-mediated mRNA decay and T cell selection in the thymus.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number6169
JournalNature communications
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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