Induction of thymocyte proliferation by supernatants from a mouse thymic epithelial cell line

• Published in: Cellular immunology Vol. 136; no. 1; pp. 113 - 121
• Main Authors: Serra Villa-Verde, Déa Maria, Defresne, Marie-Paule, Greimers, Roland, Dardenne, Mireille, Savino, Wilson, Boniver, Jacques
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.08.1991; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anatomie (cytologie, histologie, embryologie...) & physiologie; Anatomy (cytology, histology, embryology...) & physiology; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; CD4 Antigens - analysis; CD8 Antigens; Cell Line; Epithelium - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Immunobiology; Life sciences; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphoid organs: ontogeny, organization, homing phenomenon; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Sciences du vivant; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Thymic Factor, Circulating - physiology; Thymus Gland - physiology; Triiodothyronine - pharmacology; Cell proliferation; Thymus gland; Cell supernatant; Induction; Thymocyte; Rodentia; Cell subpopulation; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Cell line; Mouse; T-Lymphocyte; Epithelial cell; Growth factor
• ISSN: 0008-8749; 1090-2163; 1090-2163
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-8749(91)90386-P

The thymic stroma plays a critical role in the generation of T lymphocytes by direct cell-to-cell contacts as well as by secreting growth factors or hormones. The thymic epithelial cells, responsible for thymic hormone secretion, include morphologically and antigenically distinct subpopulations that may exert different roles in thymocyte maturation. The recent development of thymic epithelial cell lines provided an interesting model for studying thymic epithelial influences on T cell differentiation. Treating mouse thymocytes by supernatants from one of TEC line (IT-76M1), we observed an induction of thymocyte proliferation and an increase in the percentages of CD4 −/CD8 − thymocytes. This proliferation was largely inhibited when thymocytes were incubated with IT-76M1 supernatants together with an anti-thymulin monoclonal antibody, but could be enhanced by pretreating growing epithelial cells by triiodothyronine. We suggest that among the target cells for thymulin within the thymus, some putative precursors of early phenotype might be included.