In vitro T-cell potential of 11-dpc liver cell populations established in FTOC.

(A) Purified R2 and R3 cells and total liver cells were first expanded in vitro (ST2 + IL-7, IL-11, SCF) and then seeded on thymic lobes (250 initial cells/lobe). Absolute cell numbers of CD45.2⁺donor-derived cells/lobe are shown. Data are representative of 3 independent cultures and are expressed as means ± SD of 4-8 lobes/bar. (B) Shown are 2-color FACS dot plots of thymocyte populations recovered at the end of FTOC assays seeded with purified R2 and R3 cell populations. FITC anti-CD3ε and anti–αβ-TCR, PE anti-CD8, Cy5 anti-CD4, and biotinylated anti-CD45.2 mAbs were used. Stainings and FACS analyses were as described in Figure 2A. The numbers inside the plots show the cell percentages in the corresponding quadrants.