Figure 4. STIM-deficient mice have a smaller population of thymic TCRαβ⁺ CD8αα⁺ IEL precursors.

(A) Flow cytometric analysis of TCRαβ⁺ CD8αα⁺ IEL precursors (pre-IELs) among CD4^- CD8^- thymocytes from control mice and VavDKO mice and frequency in total thymocytes (left) and absolute cell number (right) of pre-IELs. Data are representative of three independent experiments. Error bars denote mean ± SEM. n=5. *, P<0.01, **, P<0.05. (B) Expression of IL-15 receptor components in DN CD5⁺TCRβ⁺ thymocytes from control (black lines) and DKO (grey lines) mice. Data are representative of three independent experiments. (C) Proliferation of DN CD5⁺TCRβ⁺ thymocytes from control (black lines) and DKO (grey lines) mice was assessed by Ki-67 staining. Data are representative of three independent experiments. (D) Egr2 expression in DN CD5⁺TCRβ⁺ thymocytes and iNKT cell precursors. Control: black line, DKO: grey line, Isotype control: dashed line. Data are representative of two (D) and more than three (A to C) independent experiments. See also Table S1.