Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026

Mouse Naïve CD4+ T Cell Isolation and In vitro Differentiation into T Cell Subsets
Published on: April 16, 2015
An alternative NFAT-activation pathway mediated by IL-7 is critical for early thymocyte development
Amiya K Patra1, Andris Avots, René P Zahedi
1Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Interleukin 7 (IL-7) has a critical role in the development of early CD4(-)CD8(-) double-negative (DN) thymocytes. Although the transcription factor STAT5 is an important component of IL-7 signaling, differences in the phenotypes of mice deficient in STAT5, IL-7, IL-7 receptor alpha (IL-7rα) or the kinase Jak3 suggest the existence of STAT5-independent IL-7 signaling. Here we found that IL-7-Jak3 signals activated the transcription factor NFATc1 in DN thymocytes by phosphorylating Tyr371 in the regulatory region of NFATc1. This NFAT-activation pathway was critical for the survival and development of DN thymocytes, as deficiency in NFATc1 blocked thymocyte development at the DN1 stage, leading to T cell lymphopenia. In addition, our results demonstrated a cooperative function for NFATc1 and STAT5 in guiding thymocyte development in response to IL-7 signals.
More Related Videos
09:41Preparation of Single-Cell Suspension of Mouse Thymic Epithelial Cells and Staining of Intracellular Molecules for Flow Cytometric Analysis
Published on: July 26, 2024
09:43Co-Culture and Transduction of Murine Thymocytes on Delta-Like 4-Expressing Stromal Cells to Study Oncogenes in T-Cell Leukemia
Published on: June 9, 2023
Related Concept Videos
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
NF-kB-dependent Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway