Study of murine T cell migration using the Thy-1 allotypic marker. Demonstration of antigen-specific homing to lymph node germinal centers.
We describe the use of Thy-1 alloantigen as a marker for in vivo T lymphocyte homing studies. Following transfer of 5 x 10(7) peripheral node T cells i.v., 32% of the transferred cells could be recovered in the host lymphoid organs (spleen, lymph nodes, Peyer's patches, and thymus); 11% of the T cells in the lymph nodes were donor derived. The transferred T cells assume the same microenvironmental and immunophenotypic distribution as the host T cells. The transferred T cells are identifiable in peripheral lymph nodes up to 170 days posttransfer, gradually declining in number during this time without evidence of rejection. This Thy-1 transfer technique permits T lymphocyte homing studies to be performed under physiologic conditions without problems of loss of lymphocyte subsets, selective labeling of lymphocyte populations, or long-term marker loss or dilution. We then employ this technique to demonstrate the antigen-directed homing of peripheral T cells to lymph node germinal centers.
D000818:Animals; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002465:Cell Movement; D006085:Graft Survival; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens