Deletion of beta-catenin impairs T cell development.
T cells encounter two main checkpoints during development in the thymus. These checkpoints are critically dependent on signals derived from the thymic microenvironment as well as from the pre-T cell receptor (pre-TCR) and the alphabeta TCR. Here we show that T cell-specific deletion of beta-catenin impaired T cell development at the beta-selection checkpoint, leading to a substantial decrease in splenic T cells. In addition, beta-catenin also seemed to be a target of TCR-CD3 signals in thymocytes and mature T cells. These data indicate that beta-catenin-mediated signals are required for normal T cell development.
Xu
Youyuan
Y
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Banerjee
Daliya
D
Huelsken
Joerg
J
Birchmeier
Walter
W
Sen
Jyoti Misra
JM
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D017353:Gene Deletion; D007107:Immune System / Q000254:growth & development; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D051176:beta Catenin
C495267:CTNNB1 protein, mouse; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin