In contrast, Fermt3-/- T cells failed to proliferate when dendritic cells were loaded with lower concentrations of MOG35-55 peptide (Figure 2K) indicating that defective integrin-mediated contact between kindlin-3-deficient T cells and APCs causes a reduced proliferative response contributing to thymus atrophy of kindlin-3-deficient mice. This evidence concerns the gene FERMT3 and thymus atrophy.