title: Effect of interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on lymphoepithelial interactions within thymic nurse cells.
abstract: Isolated thymic nurse cells (TNC) represent a specialized microenvironment in vivo where thymocytes interact specifically with subcapsular epithelial cells. They are thought to play a critical role in the process of T cell differentiation. We demonstrate that recombinant murine interferon-gamma and recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha can act on these interactions: they stimulate TNC-derived epithelial cells to establish interactions with thymocytes in vitro and to form new lymphoepithelial complexes. This phenomenon is partially inhibited by anti-Ia monoclonal antibodies. Implications of these findings for normal intrathymic differentiation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Defresne
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Humblet
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rongy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greimers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boniver
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma