Adoptively transferred T precursor cells migrate and develop primarily in the thymus during immune reconstitution. (A) 2 × 105 BALB/c lin− BM plus 0.5-1 × 106 transgenic B6 DN2/3 T cell precursor cells were transplanted into BALB/c recipients. Images display CBRLuc activity (NFAT signaling) from the thymus, day 12 in vivo and day 21 ex vivo. The CBRLuc activity quantification was performed in 10 recipients. The dot plot displays CD45+ extGLuc+ cells and percentages of DP, SP-CD4, and SP-CD8. (B) Tomographic reconstruction of the bioluminescence source distribution superimposed upon orthogonal slices through a registered computed tomography (CT) image set. Slices were selected so as to pass through the center of the most intense region of bioluminescence and correspond to the thymus.
