Kinetics of T cell receptorβ, γ, and δ rearrangements during adult thymic development: T cell receptor rearrangements are present in CD44~+CD25~+ Pro-T thymocytes

摘要

We performed a comprehensive analysis of T cell receptor (TCR) γ rearrangements in T cell precursors of the mouse adult thymus. Using a sensitive quantitative PCR method, we show that TCRγ rearrangements are present in CD44~+CD25~+ Pro-T thymocytes much earlier than expected. TCRγ rearrangements increase significantly from the Pro-T to the CD44~-CD25~+ Pre-T cell transition, and follow different patterns depending on each Vγ gene segment, suggesting that ordered waves of TCRγ rearrangement exist in the adult mouse thymus as has been described in the fetal mouse thymus.