Thymosin beta 4 is a shared antigen between lymphoid cells and oligodendrocytes of normal human brain.
In the normal human brain, immunoreactive thymosin beta 4, a well-characterized thymic extract, was demonstrated specifically in the cell bodies and processes of a subset of interfascicular and satellite oligodendrocytes with their stained processes terminating around myelin sheaths. Antisera directed against two other thymic polypeptides, thymosin alpha 1 and alpha 7, did not react. In lymphoid tissues, thymosin beta 4 was present in macrophages, Langerhans' cells of the skin, and the interdigitating cells of the thymus. Thus, a subset of oligodendrocytes shares a common antigen of thymic origin with the reticular-dendritic and phagocytic lymphoid cells--all Ia+ immunocompetent cells that participate in the presentation of antigens to T cells. The subset of thymosin beta 4-positive oligodendrocytes is antigenically distinct and may play a role in the immune surveillance of the central nervous system or the demyelinating processes induced by antigen-presenting activated macrophages.
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D000882:Haplorhini; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007120:Immunochemistry; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000276:immunology*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000276:immunology; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)
D000941:Antigens; D007106:Immune Sera; D013947:Thymosin; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)