Identification of a genomic enhancer that enforces proper apoptosis induction in thymic negative selection

Abstract

Autoreactive T cells are deleted in the thymus via thymic negative selection and Bim-mediated apoptosis. Here the authors identify a cis-acting enhancer, E BAB , that is essential for proper Bim expression and apoptosis induction, and show that E BAB deficiency specifically impairs thymic negative selection without affecting peripheral T cell homeostasis.