Phenotype of stromal cell-associated thymocytes in situ is compatible with selection of the T cell repertoire at an "immature" stage of thymic T cell differentiation.
Murine thymocytes interacting with cortical macrophages, cortical epithelial cells and medullary dendritic cells in situ express T cell receptors at low to intermediate density. They co-express the lineage markers Lyt-2 and L3T4 and are not enriched for cells expressing high-density interleukin 2 and lymph node homing receptors. Thus, recognition of stromal cells in situ in distinct thymic microenvironments occurs at a common stage of T cell maturation which is phenotypically intermediate between intrathymic precursor cells and mature medullary-type thymocytes. The surface phenotype of dendritic cell-associated thymocytes indicates the presence of thymocytes with a "cortical" phenotype within the antigen-exposed ("nonsterile") phase of T cell maturation in the medulla.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006128:Growth; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell