Thymic Mimetic Cells: Ontogeny as Immunology

Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 2024 Apr 12. doi: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-112122-023316. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMedullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) generate immunological self-tolerance by ectopically expressing peripheral-tissue antigens (PTAs) within the thymus to preview the peripheral self to maturing T cells. Recent work, drawing inspiration from old histological observations, has shown that subtypes of mTECs, collectively termed mimetic cells, co-opt developmental programs from throughout the organism to express biologically coherent groups of PTAs. Here, we review key aspects of mimetic cells, especially as they relate to the larger contexts of molecular, cellular, developmental, and evolutionary biology. We highlight lineage-defining transcription factors as key regulators of mimetic cells and speculate as to what other factors, including Aire and the chromatin potential of mTECs, permit mimetic cell differentiation and function. Last, we consider what mimetic cells can teach us about not only the thymus but also other tissues.PMID:38608315 | DOI:10.1146/annurev-cellbio-112122-023316
Source: Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology - Category: Cytology Authors: Source Type: research