Abstract
Thymic primordium, formed by cells derived from the endoderm, the ectoderm and the neural crest-derived mesenchyme, receive fetal liver derived lymphoid precursors. Reciprocal cell-cell interactions between thymic stromal cells and lymphoid precursors are critical in the expansion and maturation of thymocytes. Transcription factor TCF-1 is critical for the expansion of thymocytes because deletion of TCF-1 results in a significant decrease in the number of thymocytes without affecting the developmental pattern. In this report we show that Wnt-1 and Wnt-4 are expressed in the thymus and the deletion of Wnt-1 or Wnt-4 result in a substantial decrease in the number of thymocytes without affecting the pattern of maturation. Wnt-1 and Wnt-4 both regulate developing thymocytes because a double deficiency results in a significantly greater decrease of immature and mature thymocytes compared to deficiency in either Wnt-1 or Wnt-4.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amphibian Proteins*
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Animals
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Cell Differentiation / genetics
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Cell Division
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Cell Survival
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DNA, Complementary / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
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Egg Proteins / biosynthesis
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Egg Proteins / genetics
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Fetal Proteins / biosynthesis
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Fetal Proteins / genetics
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Fetal Proteins / physiology
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Genes, Lethal
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Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha
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Lymphocyte Count
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Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Protein Biosynthesis
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Proteins / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / deficiency
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology*
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Stromal Cells / cytology
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T Cell Transcription Factor 1
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T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
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Thymus Gland / cytology*
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Thymus Gland / embryology
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Transcription Factors / physiology
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Wnt Proteins
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Wnt1 Protein
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Wnt3 Protein
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Wnt4 Protein
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Zebrafish Proteins*
Substances
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Amphibian Proteins
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DNA, Complementary
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Egg Proteins
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Fetal Proteins
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Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha
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Hnf1a protein, mouse
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Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
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Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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T Cell Transcription Factor 1
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Transcription Factors
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Wnt Proteins
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Wnt1 Protein
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Wnt1 protein, mouse
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Wnt3 Protein
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Wnt4 Protein
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Wnt4 protein, mouse
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Wnt6 protein, mouse
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Zebrafish Proteins