T lymphocytes are the most important cells of the adaptive immune system and develop in the thymus. A wide variety of signals is responsible for proper development of stem cells into T lymphocytes. Amongst these signals, Notch and Wnt signals are very important. Our lab showed for the first time e that Wnt signaling is required for T cell development in the thymus. We study both human and mouse development in vivo and in vitro.
Techniques used include:
- Genetic or conditional knockout mouse models (Tcf1 ko, Apc flox, Wnt3a KO, RbpjK flox, novel Notch and Wnt reporters)
- Models for transplantation of human stem cells (NSG)
- Retro- or lentiviral expression of transgenes
- Cell sorting by FACS
- mRNA expression measurements (qPCR, microarray, RNASeq)
- 12-color flow cytometry
- TCR and BCR repertoire assessment
We have previously published a gene expression analysis of human T cell differentiation stages (Dik, Pike-Overzet et al.) for which we have made the data available and browsable here.
Relevant publications:
Martijn Brugman, Anna-Sophia Wiekmeijer, Marja van Eggermond, Ingrid Wolvers-Tettero, Anton W Langerak, Edwin de Haas, Leonid V. Bystrykh, Jon J van Rood, Gerald de Haan, Willem E. Fibbe, Frank J.T. Staal.
PNAS, 2015 Oct 19. doi:10.1073/pnas.1519118112
PMID: 26483497
Farbod Famili, Brigitta A.E Naber, Sandra Vloemans, Edwin F.E. de Haas, Machteld M. Tiemessen and Frank J. T.Staal.
Cell Death & Disease, accepted for publication
PMID: Pending
Tiemessen MM, Baert MR, Kok L, van Eggermond MC, van den Elsen PJ, Arens R, Staal FJ.
J Immunol. 2014 Dec 1;193(11):5480-7. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1303417. Epub 2014 Oct 29.
PMID: 25355919