The role of fetal epithelial tissues in the maturation/differentiation of bone marrow-derived precursors into dendritic epidermal T cells (DETC) of the mouse.
Our attempts to clarify the contribution of the thymic vs. the cutaneous microenvironment in the maturation of dendritic epidermal T cell (DETC) precursors into DETC gave diverse results. In one series of experiments, we found that i.v. injection of fetal thymocytes (containing a TCR V gamma 3-expressing subpopulation), but not of adult thymocytes (containing no TCR V gamma 3+ cells) results in the appearance of CD3/TCR V gamma 3+ dendritic epidermal cells (=DETC). In other experiments, we have obtained evidence that transplantation of day 16 fetal skin onto a Thy-1-disparate recipient results in the appearance of donor-type DETC. Our further observation that the transplanted skin contains CD45+/Thy-1+/CD3- lymphocytes, but no mature T cells, therefore implies that fetal skin can provide stimuli promoting the expression of CD3/TCR genes in immature (CD3-) DETC precursors. It remains to be seen whether both or only one of these maturational pathways are (is) followed under physiological conditions.
Stingl
G
G
Department of Dermatology I, University of Vienna Medical School.
Elbe
A
A
Paer
E
E
Kilgus
O
O
Strohal
R
R
Schreiber
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology
D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta