Aberrant T cell development is a pivotal risk factor for autoimmune disease; however, the underlying molecular mechanism of T cell overactivation is poorly understood. Here, we identified NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) and IkB kinase α (IKKα) in thymic epithelial cells (TECs) as essential regulators of T cell development. Mouse TEC-specific ablation of either NIK or IKKα resulted in severe T cell-mediated inflammation, injury, and fibrosis in the liver and lung, leading to premature death within 18 d of age. NIK or IKKα deficiency abrogated medullary TEC development, and led to breakdown of central tolerance, production of autoreactive T cells, and fatal autoimmune destruction in the liver and lung. TEC-specific ablation of NIK or IKKα also impaired thymic T cell development from the double-negative through the double-positive stages and inhibited peripheral B cell development. These results unravel a hitherto unrecognized essential role of TEC-intrinsic NIK and IKKα pathways in autoimmunity and T cell-instigated chronic liver and lung diseases.
Keywords: NIK and IKKalpha; autoimmune disease; liver disease; lung disease; thymic epithelial cells.