Effect of interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on lymphoepithelial interactions within thymic nurse cells.
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.
Defresne
M P
MP
Department of Pathology, University of Liège, Belgium.
Humblet
C
C
Rongy
A M
AM
Greimers
R
R
Boniver
J
J
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*
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma