title: Beta-catenin is dispensable for hematopoiesis and lymphopoiesis.
abstract: Beta-catenin-mediated Wnt signaling has been suggested to be critically involved in hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and development of T and B cells in the immune system. Unexpectedly, here we report that inducible Cre-loxP-mediated inactivation of the beta-catenin gene in bone marrow progenitors does not impair their ability to self-renew and reconstitute all hematopoietic lineages (myeloid, erythroid, and lymphoid), even in competitive mixed chimeras. In addition, both thymocyte survival and antigen-induced proliferation of peripheral T cells is beta-catenin independent. In contrast to earlier reports, these data exclude an essential role for beta-catenin during hematopoiesis and lymphopoiesis.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cobas
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Stéphane J C
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: H Robson
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kemler
authors.forename: Freddy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Radtke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002678:Chimera; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics; D038041:Lymphopoiesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495267:CTNNB1 protein, mouse; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases