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. 2008 May 12;112(3):626–634. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-10-115618

Figure 3.

Figure 3

The composition, phenotype, and proliferation of the thymic epithelial compartment are altered in TGFβRIIlox/lox::Foxn1-Cre mice. (A) TEC cellularity in TGFβRIIlox/lox::Foxn1-Cre and TGFβRIIlox/lox littermates at the indicated ages. Data are given for TECs expressing either high (Inline graphic) or intermediate (Inline graphic) MHC cell surface concentrations. Total TEC cellularity at the age of 8 weeks: 0.39 (± 0.06) × 106 cells (TGFβRIIlox/lox::Foxn1-Cre) versus 0.35 (± 0.07) × 106 cells (TGFβRIIlox/lox, P = .36 derived from a t test, with 6 and 4 mice per group, respectively); at the age of 28 weeks: 0.389 (± 0.100) × 106 cells (TGFβRIIlox/lox::Foxn1-Cre) versus 0.192 (± 0.031) × 106 cells (TGFβRIIlox/lox, P = .02 derived from a t test, with 4 and 3 mice per group, respectively); and at the age of 64 weeks: 0.166 (± 0.073) × 106 versus 0.080 (± 0.029) × 106 (P < .015 derived from a t test, with 4 and 6 mice per group, respectively). This analysis was performed at least twice with similar results. (B) Fraction of MHCIIhigh TECs in comparison with total TECs (CD45+MHCII+). TECs derived from TGFβRIIlox/lox::Foxn1-Cre (8 weeks of age) and TGFβRIIlox/lox::Hoxa3-Cre (10-12 weeks after transplantation) mice show similar increases in the MHCIIhigh fraction in comparison with Cre-negative littermate controls. (C) Spontaneous proliferation of TECs isolated from TGFβRIIlox/lox::Foxn1-Cre and TGFβRIIlox/lox mice (16 weeks of age) as measured by the fraction of BrdU-incorporating TECs. One representative experiment of 2 with 4 or more animals in each group is shown. P value was obtained using a t test. Error bars represent SD.