Functional assessment of alphaEbeta7/E-cadherin interactions in the steady state postnatal thymus.
T cell differentiation in the thymus depends on sequential interactions between lymphoid progenitors and stromal cells in discrete regions of the cortex. Here, we show that despite alphaEbeta7 expression by a subset of the earliest intrathymic precursors (and E-cadherin expression by thymic stroma), interaction of these elements is not required for proper localization of early progenitors into the cortex, or for successful steady state differentiation. These findings indicate that despite in vitro data demonstrating alphaEbeta7 mediated adhesion and proliferation of intrathymic T cell precursor populations, T lymphocyte development can proceed independently of alphaEbeta7/E-cadherin interactions.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Box 287, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA. prockops@mskcc.org
Susan E
SE
Prockop
Howard T
HT
Petrie
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016023:Integrins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011485:Protein Binding; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013949:Thymus Extracts; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018183:Transplantation Chimera / Q000378:metabolism
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D016023:Integrins; D013949:Thymus Extracts; C070709:integrin alphaEbeta7