At co-expressed appreciable levels of Ret, Gfra1 and Gfra2, while all other DN subsets expressed Gfra1 but only minute levels of Ret (Fig. 3D). Thus, we conclude that the expression of RET signalling partners in adult thymocytes mirrors to large extend the expression patterns of foetal thymocytes, ie, Ret, Gfra1and Gfra2 are most abundant in the earliest stages of T cell development, while Gdnf and Nrtn are mainly produced by non-hematopoietic thymic cells.Results Ret, Gfra1, Gfra2, Gdnf and Nrtn are expressed in the foetal thymusPrevious reports have shown the expression of Ret, Gfra1 25033180 and Gdnf in the thymus [10,11]. Initially we investigated the expression of Ret and its co-receptors in E15.5 thymocyte subsets by RTPCR. Although most E15.5 thymocytes are at the DN stage [4], due to minute cell numbers 256373-96-3 available at this developmental stage we sorted DN1+DN2 (pooling CD42CD82CD32CD44+CD252 and CD42CD82CD32CD44+CD25+ cells) and DN3+DN4 thymocytes (CD42CD82CD32CD442CD25+ and 2 2 CD4 CD8 CD32CD442CD252) by flow cytometry. We found that while Ret, Gfra1 and Gfra2 were expressed in the foetal thymus, Gfra3 and Gfra4 were absent (Fig. 1A). Sequentially, quantitative RT-PCR analysis confirmed expression of Ret and Gfra1 in thymocytes at all DN developmental stages, a finding also confirmed at the protein level for RET (Fig. 1B, 1C). In contrast, Gfra2 was present in DN1+DN2 but absent from later DN stages (Fig. 1B). Sequentially, we CAL120 biological activity evaluated the expression of the RETligands Gdnf and Nrtn in the thymic environment. We found that the main source of these transcripts were CD452 cells (Fig. 1D), while hematopoietic (CD45+) DN thymocytes only expressed minute levels of Gdnf and Nrtn (Fig. 1D, 1E). Thus, we confirmed that the molecules required for active RET signalling are expressed in the embryonic thymus, suggesting a role for these neurotrophic factor signalling axes in the early stages of foetal thymocyte development.RET-mediated signals are dispensable for adult T cell developmentRet2/2 animals die perinatally due to kidney failure, hindering analysis of adult T cell development [22]. Thus, in order to determine the role of RET signalling in adult thymopoiesis, we developed a Ret conditional knockout model (Retfl/fl) that allows a lineage targeted strategy for Ret ablation. These mice were bred to human 23727046 CD2-Cre animals that ensure Cre activity from DN1 stage onwards [23] (Fig. S2). Analysis of the offspring of this breeding at 8 weeks of age showed that despite a marginal reduction in DN1 thymocyte numbers in CD2Cre/Retnull/fl animals, the subsequent DN stages 
were similarly represented in CD2Cre/Retnull/fl and CD2Cre/RetWT/fl mice (Fig. 4A; Fig. S3). Analysis of DN to SP ab T cell development showed similar 
fractions and absolute numbersRET, GFRa1 and GFRa2 are dispensable for foetal thymocyte developmentIn order to determine whether RET mediated signals are required for foetal thymocyte development, we analyzed E18.5 thymus from Ret2/2, Gfra12/2 or Gfra22/2 animals [20,21,22], thus including in our analysis DN thymocytes and emergent immCD8, DP and cd TCR thymocytes. Since expression of Ret, Gfra1 and Gfra2 is higher in early DN thymocytes (DN1 and DN2) (Fig. 1B), we initially evaluated these differentiation stages in Ret, Gfra1 or Gfra2 deficient embryos. We found that both the percentage and cell number of DN1? subsetsRET Signalling and T Cell DevelopmentFigure 1. Expression of Ret and its signalling partners in foetal thymic populations.At co-expressed appreciable levels of Ret, Gfra1 and Gfra2, while all other DN subsets expressed Gfra1 but only minute levels of Ret (Fig. 3D). Thus, we conclude that the expression of RET signalling partners in adult thymocytes mirrors to large extend the expression patterns of foetal thymocytes, ie, Ret, Gfra1and Gfra2 are most abundant in the earliest stages of T cell development, while Gdnf and Nrtn are mainly produced by non-hematopoietic thymic cells.Results Ret, Gfra1, Gfra2, Gdnf and Nrtn are expressed in the foetal thymusPrevious reports have shown the expression of Ret, Gfra1 25033180 and Gdnf in the thymus [10,11]. Initially we investigated the expression of Ret and its co-receptors in E15.5 thymocyte subsets by RTPCR. Although most E15.5 thymocytes are at the DN stage [4], due to minute cell numbers available at this developmental stage we sorted DN1+DN2 (pooling CD42CD82CD32CD44+CD252 and CD42CD82CD32CD44+CD25+ cells) and DN3+DN4 thymocytes (CD42CD82CD32CD442CD25+ and 2 2 CD4 CD8 CD32CD442CD252) by flow cytometry. We found that while Ret, Gfra1 and Gfra2 were expressed in the foetal thymus, Gfra3 and Gfra4 were absent (Fig. 1A). Sequentially, quantitative RT-PCR analysis confirmed expression of Ret and Gfra1 in thymocytes at all DN developmental stages, a finding also confirmed at the protein level for RET (Fig. 1B, 1C). In contrast, Gfra2 was present in DN1+DN2 but absent from later DN stages (Fig. 1B). Sequentially, we evaluated the expression of the RETligands Gdnf and Nrtn in the thymic environment. We found that the main source of these transcripts were CD452 cells (Fig. 1D), while hematopoietic (CD45+) DN thymocytes only expressed minute levels of Gdnf and Nrtn (Fig. 1D, 1E). Thus, we confirmed that the molecules required for active RET signalling are expressed in the embryonic thymus, suggesting a role for these neurotrophic factor signalling axes in the early stages of foetal thymocyte development.RET-mediated signals are dispensable for adult T cell developmentRet2/2 animals die perinatally due to kidney failure, hindering analysis of adult T cell development [22]. Thus, in order to determine the role of RET signalling in adult thymopoiesis, we developed a Ret conditional knockout model (Retfl/fl) that allows a lineage targeted strategy for Ret ablation. These mice were bred to human 23727046 CD2-Cre animals that ensure Cre activity from DN1 stage onwards [23] (Fig. S2). Analysis of the offspring of this breeding at 8 weeks of age showed that despite a marginal reduction in DN1 thymocyte numbers in CD2Cre/Retnull/fl animals, the subsequent DN stages were similarly represented in CD2Cre/Retnull/fl and CD2Cre/RetWT/fl mice (Fig. 4A; Fig. S3). Analysis of DN to SP ab T cell development showed similar fractions and absolute numbersRET, GFRa1 and GFRa2 are dispensable for foetal thymocyte developmentIn order to determine whether RET mediated signals are required for foetal thymocyte development, we analyzed E18.5 thymus from Ret2/2, Gfra12/2 or Gfra22/2 animals [20,21,22], thus including in our analysis DN thymocytes and emergent immCD8, DP and cd TCR thymocytes. Since expression of Ret, Gfra1 and Gfra2 is higher in early DN thymocytes (DN1 and DN2) (Fig. 1B), we initially evaluated these differentiation stages in Ret, Gfra1 or Gfra2 deficient embryos. We found that both the percentage and cell number of DN1? subsetsRET Signalling and T Cell DevelopmentFigure 1. Expression of Ret and its signalling partners in foetal thymic populations.
