| First Author | Hozumi K | Year | 1994 |
| Journal | Eur J Immunol | Volume | 24 |
| Issue | 6 | Pages | 1339-44 |
| PubMed ID | 7515811 | Mgi Jnum | J:18908 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:67128 | Doi | 10.1002/eji.1830240615 |
| Citation | Hozumi K, et al. (1994) Pro-T cells in fetal thymus express c-kit and RAG-2 but do not rearrange the gene encoding the T cell receptor beta chain. Eur J Immunol 24(6):1339-44 |
| abstractText | Ten percent of 15-day fetal thymocytes of mice were Pgp-1+Thy-1lo cells. Half were strongly stained with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) recognizing the oncogene product, c-kit, but were not stained with mAb against non-T cell markers such as B220, Mac-1 and Gr-1. The isolated Pgp-1+c-kit+ thymocytes showed no rearranged bands for V-DJ and D-J of T cell receptor (TcR) beta, but Pgp-1(-)-c-kit- thymocytes showed D-J rearranged bands. Both cells expressed the RAG-2 gene which is required for the V(D)J recombination process. When Pgp-1+c-kit+ thymocytes were cultured in 2-deoxyguanosine-treated alymphocytic fetal thymus, they became TcR-expressing mature type T cells, but this differentiation was reduced by the addition of anti c-kit mAb. These data indicate that Pgp-1+c-kit+ thymocytes are pro-T cells with the potential to differentiate mature T cells in the thymic environment. This study also indicates that c-kit-mediated signals promote the differentiation of thymocytes during their early stages. |
