Lymphotoxin controls αEβ7-integrin expression by peripheral CD8 T cells

Abstract

Lymphotoxin (LT)-α, a member of the TNF family, is recognized as an important mediator in different aspects of lymphoid organ development. Targeted disruption of this molecule resulted in a substantial reduction in the proportion of αEβ7-integrinhigh CD8+ T cells detectable in peripheral lymphoid organs. This defect, however, was not observed on mature CD4-CD8+ thymocytes. To determine whether this was due to downregulation of β7-integrin expression by peripheral CD8+ T cells or a failure of thymic emigration of CD8+ β7-integrinhigh T cells, β7-integrin was examined on recent thymic emigrants (RTE). When analysed within 16 h after leaving the thymus CD4-CD8+ RTE in both LT-α-/- and wild type..