T cell-specific loss of Pten leads to defects in central and peripheral tolerance

Abstract

PTEN, a tumor suppressor gene, is essential for embryogenesis. We used the Cre-loxP system to generate a T cell-specific deletion of the Pten gene (Ptenflox/- mice). All Ptenflox/- mice develop CD4+ T cell lymphomas by 17 weeks. Ptenflox/- mice show increased thymic cellularity due in part to a defect in thymic negative selection. Ptenflox/- mice exhibit elevated levels of B cells and CD4+ T cells in the periphery, spontaneous activation of CD4+ T cells, autoantibody production, and hypergammaglobulinemia. Ptenflox/- T cells hyperproliferate, are autoreactive, secrete increased levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines, resist apoptosis, and show increased phosphorylation of PKB/Akt and ERK. Peripheral tolerance to SEB is also impaired in Ptenflox/- mice. PTEN is thus an important regulator of T cell homeostasis and self-tolerance.