Abstract
Beta-catenin-mediated Wnt signaling has been suggested to be critically involved in hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and development of T and B cells in the immune system. Unexpectedly, here we report that inducible Cre-loxP-mediated inactivation of the beta-catenin gene in bone marrow progenitors does not impair their ability to self-renew and reconstitute all hematopoietic lineages (myeloid, erythroid, and lymphoid), even in competitive mixed chimeras. In addition, both thymocyte survival and antigen-induced proliferation of peripheral T cells is beta-catenin independent. In contrast to earlier reports, these data exclude an essential role for beta-catenin during hematopoiesis and lymphopoiesis.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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B-Lymphocytes / cytology
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B-Lymphocytes / immunology
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Division
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Chimera
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / deficiency
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / physiology*
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Female
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Hematopoiesis / genetics
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Hematopoiesis / physiology*
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Integrases / genetics
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Lymphopoiesis / genetics
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Lymphopoiesis / physiology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Phenotype
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology
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Signal Transduction
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T-Lymphocytes / cytology
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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Trans-Activators / deficiency
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Trans-Activators / genetics
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Trans-Activators / physiology*
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Wnt Proteins
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beta Catenin
Substances
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CTNNB1 protein, mouse
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Cytoskeletal Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Trans-Activators
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Wnt Proteins
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beta Catenin
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Cre recombinase
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Integrases