Figure 1.

Dkk3 does not influence T-cell development and activation in naïve Dkk3-deficient mice. (A) Thymocytes from naïve Dkk3^−/− mice and littermate controls were stained for CD4 and CD8 and analyzed by flow cytometry. Distribution of thymocyte subsets (DN: CD4⁻ CD8⁻ double negative; DP: CD4⁺ CD8⁺ double positive) is shown in a representative dot plot (left) and cumulative data of percentages of whole thymocytes (right; n = 4–5). (B) Absolute numbers of respective thymocyte subsets from (A), determined by flow cytometry (n = 4–5). (C) Flow cytometric analysis of CD69 cell surface expression on CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and CD4⁺ CD8⁺ double positive (DP) subsets from (A). One representative histogram is shown (n = 4–5). (D) Representative dot plot of CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺ cells among CD4 single positive cells in the thymus of Dkk3^−/− and WT control mice. (E) Analysis of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell subsets, among CD3 positive cells, in the spleen of Dkk3^−/− mice compared to littermate controls. One representative dot plot (left) as well as respective cumulative data is shown. (F) Absolute numbers of lymphocyte subsets from (D), determined by flow cytometry (n = 4–5). (G) Analysis of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell subsets among CD3 positive cells in peripheral lymph nodes (LN) of Dkk3^−/− mice and WT controls. One representative dot plot (left) as well as respective cumulative data is shown. (H) Absolute numbers of lymphocyte subsets from (F), determined by flow cytometry (n = 4–5). (I+K) Flow cytometric analysis of surface expression of the activation markers CD25 and CD69 on CD4⁺ (upper row) and CD8⁺ (lower row) T cells in (I) spleen and (K) peripheral lymph nodes of naïve Dkk3^−/− (red) and WT control (black) mice. Shown is one representative histogram (n = 10). (J+L) Flow cytometric analysis of the surface expression of CD44 and CD62L on CD4⁺ (upper row) and CD8⁺ (lower row) T cells in (J) spleen and (L) peripheral lymph nodes of naïve Dkk3^−/− and WT control mice. Shown is one representative dot plot (n = 8).