Abstract
Mice chimeric for the expression of alpha4 integrins were used to dissect the roles of these receptors in development and traffic of lymphoid and myeloid cells. During fetal life, T cell development is alpha4 independent, but after birth further production of T cells becomes alpha4 dependent. Precursors for both T and B cells require alpha4 integrins for normal development within the bone marrow. In contrast, monocytes and natural killer cells can develop normally without alpha4 integrins. Thus, there are lymphocyte-specific, developmentally regulated requirements for alpha4 integrins in hematopoiesis in the bone marrow. We also show that alpha4 integrins are essential for T cell homing to Peyer's patches, but not to other secondary lymphoid organs, including spleen, lymph nodes, and intestinal epithelium.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Age Factors
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Animals
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Antigens, CD / genetics
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Antigens, CD / immunology*
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B-Lymphocytes / chemistry
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B-Lymphocytes / cytology
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B-Lymphocytes / immunology
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Cell Differentiation / immunology
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Cell Movement / immunology*
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Chimera
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Fetus / physiology
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Flow Cytometry
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Gene Expression / immunology
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Hematopoiesis / immunology*
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Integrin alpha4
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Integrins / genetics
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Integrins / immunology*
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Killer Cells, Natural / chemistry
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Killer Cells, Natural / cytology
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Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Monocytes / chemistry
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Monocytes / cytology
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Monocytes / immunology
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Mutation / immunology
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Peyer's Patches / cytology
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Stem Cells / chemistry
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Stem Cells / cytology
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Stem Cells / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / chemistry
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T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology
Substances
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Antigens, CD
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Integrins
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Integrin alpha4