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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Examination of Thymic Positive and Negative Selection by Flow Cytometry
Published on: October 8, 2012
Inactivation of Notch 1 in immature thymocytes does not perturb CD4 or CD8T cell development
1Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Notch proteins influence cell-fate decisions in many developing systems. Several gain-of-function studies have suggested a critical role for Notch 1 signaling in CD4-CD8 lineage commitment, maturation and survival in the thymus. However, we show here that tissue-specific inactivation of the gene encoding Notch 1 in immature (CD25+CD44-)T cell precursors does not affect subsequent thymocyte development. Neither steady-state numbers nor the rate of production of CD4+ and CD8+ mature thymocytes is perturbed in the absence of Notch 1. In addition, Notch 1-deficient thymocytes are normally sensitive to spontaneous or glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. In contrast to earlier reports, these data formally exclude an essential role for Notch 1 in CD4-CD8 lineage commitment, maturation or survival.
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