MMP19 Is Essential for T Cell Development and T Cell-Mediated Cutaneous Immune Responses (original) (raw)
Figure 6
Thymocytes of MMP19−/− mice exhibit strongly reduced proliferation.
(A) Immature MMP19−/− mice exhibit low numbers of Ki-67+ medullar cells in the thymus. Scale bars: 50 µm. (B and C). To quantify proliferating thymocytes mice were injected i.p. with BrdU. After 14 h, CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ thymocytes were analyzed for BrdU incorporation using flow cytometry. Grey, isotype control; light red, MMP19−/− (n = 4); red, MMP19+/+ (n = 4). (C) Quantification of BrdU positive thymocytes. CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ thymocytes from MMP19−/− mice exhibit markedly diminished proliferation. Black bars: MMP19+/+, white bars: MMP19−/−. (D) Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of MMP19 in the thymus shows expression in WT mice and confirmed the absence in MMP19−/− mice. The expression of MMP19 in the thymus is lower compared to that in the liver. CT, cycle of threshold. Significances with **p<0,01 (student's t-test).