β-catenin expression enhances IL-7 receptor signaling in thymocytes during positive selection

Differentiation of CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive thymocytes into CD8(+) single-positive (SP) thymocytes is regulated by TCR and cytokine receptor signals. Previously, we have shown that expression of stabilized beta-catenin, the major transcriptional cofactor of T cell factor, results in increase in both CD4SP and CD8SP thymocytes with a preferential effect on CD8SP thymocytes. In this report, using mice expressing stabilized beta-catenin and mice with T cell specific deletion of beta-catenin, we show that beta-catenin expression augments IL-7R alpha-chain expression and down-regulates suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 expression in thymocytes undergoing positive selection. Consequently, beta-catenin expression augments IL-7R signaling in thymocytes during positive selection and promotes the development of CD8SP thymocytes.