In:
The Journal of Immunology, The American Association of Immunologists, Vol. 164, No. 1 ( 2000-01-01), p. 256-264
Abstract:
T lymphocyte development requires a series of interactions between developing thymocytes and thymic epithelial (TE) cells. In this paper we show that TE cells in the developing thymus express Pref-1, a Delta-like cell-surface molecule. In fetal thymus organ cultures (FTOC), thymocyte cellularity was increased by the exogenous dimeric Pref-1 fusion protein, but was reduced by the soluble Pref-1 monomer or anti-Pref-1 Ab. Dimeric Pref-1 in FTOC also increased thymocyte expression of the HES-1 transcription factor. Thymocyte cellularity was increased in FTOC repopulated with immature thymocytes overexpressing HES-1, whereas FTOC from HES-1-deficient mice were hypocellular and unresponsive to the Pref-1 dimer. We detected no effects of either Pref-1 or HES-1 on developmental choice among thymocyte lineages. These results indicate that Pref-1 expressed by TE cells and HES-1 expressed by thymocytes are critically involved in supporting thymocyte cellularity.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0022-1767
,
1550-6606
DOI:
10.4049/jimmunol.164.1.256
Language:
English
Publisher:
The American Association of Immunologists
Publication Date:
2000
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1475085-5
