Pre‐TCR signaling regulates IL‐7 receptor α expression promoting thymocyte survival at the transition from the double‐negative to double‐positive stage

The pre‐T cell receptor (pre‐TCR) and IL‐7 receptor (IL‐7R) are critical mediators of survival, proliferation and differentiation in immature thymocytes. Here we show that pre‐TCR signaling directly maintains IL‐7Rα expression as developing thymocytes undergo β‐selection. Inhibition of IL‐7/IL‐7R signaling in (CD44–CD25–) DN4 cells results in decreased generation of double‐positive thymocytes due to increased death of rapidly proliferating β‐selected cells. Thus, we identify a mechanism by which pre‐TCR signaling controls the selective survival of TCRβ+ thymocytes, and define a further stage of T cell differentiation in which signaling from a TCR regulates the ability of that cell to respond to cytokine.

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