Cellular sites of immunoglobulins . VI. Localization of immunoglobulins in the human thymus.
IgG-, IgM and IgA-containing cells in the human thymus and mesenteric lymph nodes were studied by direct, double-antibody immunofluorescence techniques. Ig-containing cells were identified in the thymic medulla but not in cortical or paracortical zones. About 93 percent of the medullary Ig-containing cells were IgG-containing (vs. 5 percent IgM containing and 2 percent IgA - containing). By contrast, lymph nodes contained about 53 percent IgG, 31 percent IgA and 16 percent IgM type immunocytes. In addition, Ig-containing cells were about one-tenth as numerous in thymus as in lymph nodes.
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008643:Mesentery / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M