Cloning of human thymic subcapsular cortex epithelial cells with T-lymphocyte binding sites and hemopoietic growth factor activity.
The thymic microenvironment involves complex cell interactions among different types of epithelial cells, macrophages, tissue histiocytes, and immature and maturing T cells. We describe the isolation of a subset of thymic epithelial cells by selective primary culture followed by cotransfection with a simian virus 40 replication-origin-defective mutant and pSV2neo plasmid. The cloned cells have the composite immunophenotype that is unique to thymic subcapsular epithelial cells, suggesting that they may provide a model system in vitro for analyzing the earliest steps in T-cell differentiation. This possibility is supported by the finding that these epithelial cells express LFA-3-associated binding sites for T cells, secrete a macrophage hemopoietic growth factor, and synergize with macrophages in the production of interleukin 1.
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1