TSCs can partially support the T lymphocytes differentiation in vivo.

<p>(a) Flow cytometric analysis of thymocyte subset distribution in thymus-like tumors and corresponding spleens of nude mice 7 weeks after engraftment with re-aggregates containing thymocytes with TSCs or MEFs as defined by CD4, CD8, B220, and CD3. (b) Gross anatomy of kidneys engrafted 7 weeks earlier with MEFs (as negative control), wild type E14.5 thymus (as positive control), re-aggregates of 1×10⁴ TSCs plus MEFs or 2×10⁵ TSCs plus MEFs. (c) Flow cytometric analysis of lymphocyte subset distribution in thymus-like tumors and corresponding spleens of nude mice grafted with re-aggregates containing 1×10⁴ TSCs plus MEFs or 2×10⁵ TSCs plus MEFs as defined by CD4, CD8, B220, and CD3. (d) Frequencies of T cell populations (D3⁺ cells, CD4⁺ cells and CD8⁺ cells) in spleens of nude mice engrafted with TSC cells or MEF cells. * p < 0.05. Data represented the means ± standard deviations of three independent experiments with at least three mice per group. (e) Immunostaining of the reconstituted thymus-like tumor with anti-K8, anti-K14 and UEA-1-biotin. All data represent three individual experiments with similar results.