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Thymic stroma is required for the development of human T cell lineages in vitro.
- Source :
-
International immunology [Int Immunol] 1989; Vol. 1 (5), pp. 471-8. - Publication Year :
- 1989
-
Abstract
- Development of the T cell lineage is characterized by the homing of hematopoietic precursors to thymus, followed by their acquisition of receptors for antigen. T cell receptors are alpha beta or gamma delta heterodimers associated with CD3 (TCR-CD3). Very early T cell precursors in humans have been characterized as CD7+ 45+ cells which lack the T cell differentiation antigens CD1, CD2, CD3, CD4, and CD8. A phenotypically equivalent early thymocyte population also occurs in postnatal life, and we have previously shown that interleukin 2 (IL2) promotes the development in vitro of both the alpha beta and the gamma delta T cells from these early thymocytes. Here we have analyzed the requirements of the induction of the IL2 pathway in early thymocytes, and their developmental potential. We show that: (i) thymic stromal cells, which are present in thymocyte suspensions, are necessary to induce the IL2 pathway and the development of alpha beta or gamma delta T cell lineages from early thymocytes in vitro; and (ii) when removed from the in vivo environment, early thymocytes can develop in vitro into TCR-CD3- cells of the natural killer (NK) lineage. We conclude that CD7+ 45+, CD1-2-3-4-8- early thymocytes are multipotential progenitors that, at least, have the capacity to develop into alpha beta or gamma delta T cell and NK lineages. The analysis of the mechanisms of generation and selection of human T and NK cell diversity, not feasible in bone marrow cultures, is now possible.
- Subjects :
- Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
Cell Differentiation
Cell Division
Hematopoietic Stem Cells cytology
Hematopoietic Stem Cells immunology
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Killer Cells, Natural cytology
Phenotype
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
T-Lymphocytes immunology
Thymus Gland immunology
T-Lymphocytes cytology
Thymus Gland cytology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0953-8178
- Volume :
- 1
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- International immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 2489037
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/intimm/1.5.471