Selective elimination of double-positive immature thymocytes by a thymic epithelial cell line.
A cloned epithelial cell line, TEL-2, has been established from the stroma tissues of normal mouse thymus. Incubation of mouse thymocytes on TEL-2 cells resulted in the selective elimination of double-positive (CD4+CD8+) cells from the culture, whereas single-positive (CD4+CD8- or CD4-CD8+) thymocytes remaining in the culture were concentrated in non-integrated cell population. The CD3- or CD3 low-positive thymocytes were also eliminated by the TEL-2 cells from the culture, followed by the concentration of CD3 high-positive cells in the culture. Only intact viable thymocytes were integrated into TEL-2 cells. Electron microscopic examination showed that the integrated cells into TEL-2 cytoplasm were gradually degenerated. Mature single-positive T cells, mature B cells or double-negative thymocytes were not integrated into TEL-2 cells. The TEL-2 cell may provide information on the mechanism of selective disappearance of double-positive immature cells from the thymus.
Nakashima
M
M
Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Mori
K
K
Maeda
K
K
Kishi
H
H
Hirata
K
K
Kawabuchi
M
M
Watanabe
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004848:Epithelium; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell