c‐Rel employs multiple mechanisms to promote the thymic development and peripheral function of regulatory T cells in mice

The NF-κB transcription factor c-Rel is a critical regulator of Treg ontogeny, controlling multiple points the stepwise developmental pathway. Here, we found that thymic defect in c-Rel-deficient (cRel–/–) mice quantitative, not qualitative, based on analyses TCR repertoire and signaling strength. However, these parameters are altered Treg-precursor population, which also markedly diminished cRel–/– mice. Moreover, governs transcriptional programme both peripheral Tregs, core genes involved with immune signaling, separately periphery, cell cycle progression. Last, suppressive function tTregs lymphopenic model T proliferation associated decreased stability Foxp3 expression. Collectively, show controls aspects development, differentiation, via distinct mechanisms.