Fig. 2.

Basal NF-κB is required for T-cell survival in vivo. (A) Equal numbers of CD45.1/2 WT and CD45.2 WT or IκBα∆N CD4⁺CD44^lo and CD8⁺CD44^lo cells were coadoptively transferred into CD45.1 recipients. Seven days later, ratios of IκBαΔN:WT and WT:WT splenic CD4⁺CD44^lo and CD8⁺CD44^lo T cells were assessed as follows: (% CD45.2_final/% CD45.1/2_final)/(% CD45.2_initial/% CD45.1/2_initial). The graph represents recipients receiving WT:WT (n = 13) and IκBαΔN:WT (n = 14) cells. Data are pooled from five independent experiments and analyzed by Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn’s posttest. (B) DO11.10/WT and DO11.10/IκBα∆N mice were thymectomized, and presence of CD4⁺TCRVβ8.2⁺ T cells in peripheral blood was assessed weekly by flow cytometry (WT, n = 6; IκΒαΔN, n = 8). Values displayed are percentages of CD4⁺TCRVβ8.2⁺ T cells with respect to the live gate and relative to the value obtained at the time of thymectomy (day 0). Data are representative of two independent experiments.