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Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Examination of Thymic Positive and Negative Selection by Flow Cytometry
Published on: October 8, 2012
RCAN 1 and 3 proteins regulate thymic positive selection
Eva Serrano-Candelas1, Germán Alemán-Muench2, Sònia Solé-Sánchez1
1Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Cell Signaling Unit, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08908, Spain.
Abstract:
Cooperation between calcineurin (CN)-NFATc and RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathways is essential in thymocyte positive selection. It is known that the Regulators of Calcineurin (RCAN) proteins can act either facilitating or suppressing CN-dependent signaling events. Here, we show that RCAN genes are expressed in lymphoid tissues, and address the role of RCAN proteins in T cell development. Overexpression of human RCAN3 and RCAN1 can modulate T cell development by increasing positive selection-related surface markers, as well as the "Erk(hi) competence state" in double positive thymocytes, a characteristic molecular signature of positive selection, without affecting CN activity. We also found that RCAN1/3 interact with RAF kinases and CN in a non-exclusive manner. Our data suggests that the balance of RCAN interactions with CN and/or RAF kinases may influence T cell positive selection.
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