-Catenin expression enhances generation of mature thymocytes

Abstract

T cell factor (TCF)‐1 is a T‐cell‐specific transcription factor that is expressed at all stages of T cell development. Deletion of the TCF‐1 gene leads to an early block in thymocyte maturation precluding the study of its role at late stages and during positive selection of T cells. In this report we show that β‐catenin, a central effector in the Wnt–TCF‐1 signaling pathway, regulates late stages of T cell development. Specifically, transgenic expression of β‐catenin enhances generation of mature thymocytes. Interestingly, CD8‐expressing mature thymocytes were affected to a greater extent than CD4‐expressing cells. These data suggest that the Wnt–β‐catenin–TCF‐1 signaling pathway plays a role during late stages of T cell development.