Journal
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
Volume 166, Issue 10, Pages 5898-5908Publisher
AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS
DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.166.10.5898
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In adult life, the high CD4:CD8 cell ratio observed in peripheral lymphoid organs originates in the thymus. Our results show that the low peripheral CD4:CD8 cell ratio seen during fetal life also has an intrathymic origin. This distinct production of CD4(+)CD8(-) and CD4(-)CD8(+) thymocytes is regulated by the developmental age of the thymic stroma. The differential expression of Notch receptors and their ligands, especially Jagged1, throughout thymus development plays a key role in the generation of the different CD4:CD8 cell ratios. We also show that the intrathymic CD4:CD8 cell ratio sharply changes from fetal to adult values around birth. Differences in the proliferation and emigration rates of the mature thymocyte subsets contribute to this change.
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