Abstract
This study investigates the involvement of the avian transcription factor c-Rel in thymocyte apoptosis occurring either in vivo or in organotypic culture. In vivo, only a few cortical thymocytes express the c-Rel protein. Their number, localization and morphology resemble that of apoptotic cells evidenced by TUNEL staining. In organotypic culture, the expression of c-Rel is induced in medullary thymocytes as apoptosis is triggered. This induction would be post-transcriptional since no increase in the c-rel gene expression is detected. Moreover, c-Rel translocates into the nucleus of medullary thymocytes during the time course of apoptosis. This translocation is preceded by a decrease in ikba expression, the gene which encodes the avian homologue of IκBα. Altogether these results suggest that the proto-oncogene c-rel could take an active part in apoptosis of cortical thymocytes occurring in vivo during T-cell selection as well as in experimentally-induced apoptosis of medullary thymocytes.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Edited by G. Melino
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Huguet, C., Mattot, V., Bouali, F. et al. The avian transcription factor c-Rel is induced and translocates into the nucleus of thymocytes undergoing apoptosis. Cell Death Differ 4, 413–422 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.cdd.4400259
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.cdd.4400259