Lo and colleagues report that double-positive thymocytes from neonates express less Zap70 and show reduced Ca2⁺/NFAT signaling compared to double-positive thymocytes from older thymi. This diminished Ca2⁺ signaling alters negative selection for self-reactive TCRs, resulting in a cell-intrinsic temporal window for regulatory T versus conventional T cell development in the thymus.
- Brian D. Stadinski
- Elizabeth A. Mills
- Wan-Lin Lo
