First Author | Balciunaite G | Year | 2005 |
Journal | Eur J Immunol | Volume | 35 |
Issue | 4 | Pages | 1292-300 |
PubMed ID | 15770699 | Mgi Jnum | J:97804 |
Mgi Id | MGI:3576429 | Doi | 10.1002/eji.200425822 |
Citation | Balciunaite G, et al. (2005) The role of Notch and IL-7 signaling in early thymocyte proliferation and differentiation. Eur J Immunol 35(4):1292-300 |
abstractText | We have analyzed the roles of Notch and IL-7 signaling in the proliferation and differentiation of mouse progenitor thymocyte subpopulations cultured on Notch delta-like-1 ligand-expressing OP9 stromal cells. Using bulk and limiting dilution cultures, we show that DN1 and DN2 cells require both Notch and IL-7 signaling for efficient proliferation and differentiation into cytoplasmic TCRbeta and surface TCRalpha/beta and TCRgamma/delta expressing T cells. Selection for cytoplasmic TCRbeta-positive cells is dependent on preTalpha expression. Both gamma/delta and alpha/beta TCR expressing T cells arising in culture can be efficiently stimulated by anti-CD3 cross-linking, suggesting that they might be functional. The differentiation of adult, but not fetal, DN1 and DN2 thymocytes into CD4 and/or CD8 expressing cells is inhibited by IL-7. Finally, efficient proliferation and differentiation of DN3 cells requires Notch signaling and preTCR expression, but is independent of IL-7. |