normal phenotype
• homozygotes are viable, fertile and grossly normal
• most major tissues and organs, including primary and secondary lymphoid organs such as spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes, appear morphologically and histologically normal
• homozygotes display normal development, maturation and distribution of T and B lymphocytes
• mutant T and B cells display normal responses to different types of stimulation in vitro
• homozygotes display normal activation and priming of antigen-specific T cells in vivo
• both T-cell-dependent and -independent in vivo humoral responses to antigenic challenge are normal
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