title: In situ analyses of in ovo graft-vs.-host reaction induced by thymic nurse cell lymphocytes.
abstract: In both mammalian and avian systems, thymic nurse cells (TNC) have been shown to harbor a heterogeneous population of T lymphocytes (TNC-L) some of which exhibit a postselectional phenotype. By transplanting micromanipulated single chicken TNC onto the chorionallantoic membrane (CAM) of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-disparate embryos, an experimental system which allows for the detection of lymphocytes with graft-vs.-host (GVH) reactivity, we demonstrate here that TNC enclose lymphocytes that can develop into both CD4+ single-positive (sp) and CD8+ sp, T cell receptor (TcR) alpha beta+, or TcR gamma delta+ cells. This finding was additionally confirmed by serial transfer of primary expanded alloreactive T cells onto the CAM of secondary hosts. All donor TNC-L expressed MHC class II molecules and the interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain in primary and secondary GVH reactions. Furthermore, we observed selective accumulation of CD8+ and TcR gamma delta+ host lymphocytes in the CAM upon the induction of a local GVH reaction, most probably as a consequence of the pathological alteration of the epithelium.
authors.affiliation: Institute for General and Experimental Pathology, Medical School, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rieker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penninger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hala
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002469:Cell Separation; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000166:cytology; D004707:Endoderm / Q000166:cytology; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta