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Terminally differentiated epithelial cells of the thymic medulla and skin express nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit α 3.
- Source :
-
BioMed research international [Biomed Res Int] 2014; Vol. 2014, pp. 757502. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Jul 03. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- In the thymus, T cell maturation is influenced by cholinergic signaling, and the predominantly expressed receptor is the α3-subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, encoded by the chrna3 gene. We here determined its cellular distribution utilizing an appropriate eGFP-expressing reporter mouse strain. Neither T cells (CD4, CD8) nor mesenchymal cells (desmin-positive) expressed eGFP. In the thymic medulla, eGFP-positive cells either were scattered or, more frequently, formed small clusters resembling Hassall's corpuscles. Immunolabeling revealed that these cells were indeed terminally differentiated epithelial cells expressing keratin 10 (K10) but neither typical cortical (K8, K18) nor medullary keratins (K5, K14). These labeling patterns reflected those in the epidermis of the skin, where overlap of K10 and eGFP expression was seen in the stratum granulosum, whereas underlying basal cells displayed K5-immunoreactivity. A substantial portion of thymic eGFP-positive cells was also immunoreactive to chromogranin A, a peptide previously reported in epidermal keratinocytes in the stratum granulosum. Its fragment catestatin has multiple biological activities, including suppression of proinflammatory cytokine release from macrophages and inhibition of α3β4 nAChR. The present findings suggest that its thymic production and/or release are under cholinergic control involving nAChR containing the α3-subunit.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Epithelial Cells cytology
Epithelial Cells immunology
Mice
Mice, Transgenic
Receptors, Nicotinic genetics
Receptors, Nicotinic immunology
Skin cytology
Skin immunology
Thymus Gland cytology
Thymus Gland immunology
Cell Differentiation
Epithelial Cells metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation physiology
Receptors, Nicotinic biosynthesis
Skin metabolism
Thymus Gland metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2314-6141
- Volume :
- 2014
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BioMed research international
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25105141
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/757502