Canonical microRNAs in thymic epithelial cells promote central tolerance

Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) facilitate the deletion of developing self-reactive T cells by displaying a diverse repertoire of tissue-specific antigens, a process which largely depends on the expression of the autoimmune regulator (Aire) gene. Mature microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally are generated in a multistep process. The microprocessor complex, including DGCR8, cleaves canonical miRNAs, but alternative DGCR8-independent miRNA biogenesis pathways exist as well. In order to study the role of canonical miRNAs in thymic epithelial cells (TECs), we ablated Dgcr8 using a FoxN1-Cre transgene. We report that DGCR8-deficient TECs are unable to maintain proper thymic architecture and exhibit a dramatic loss of thymic cellularity. Importantly, DGCR8-deficient TECs develop a severe loss of Aire(+) mTECs. Using a novel immunization approach to amplify and detect self-reactive T cells within a polyclonal TCR repertoire, we demonstrate a link between the loss of Aire expression in DGCR8-deficient TECs and the breakdown of negative selection in the thymus. Thus, DGCR8 and canonical miRNAs are important in TECs for supporting central tolerance.