Identification of neural crest derived cells within the cellular microenvironment of the human thymus employing a library of monoclonal antibodies raised against neuronal tissues.
The organization of optimal microenvironmental conditions within the developing thymus for lymphatic stem cell migration and their further maturation requires cellular and humoral participation of the neural crest. Recently, the immunophenotypical (IP) heterogeneity of lymphatic cells has become a scientific fact. Monoclonal antibodies (MoABs) produced against the various subpopulations of the reticulo-epithelial cells (RE) demonstrated their heterogeneity. We suggest that with a library of MoABs, raised against normal neuronal tissues, neural tumors, and a medulloblastoma cell line, including UJ13/A, UJ127.11, UJ167.11, UJ223.8, UJ308, J1153, A2B5, 215.D11, 275.G7, 282.1, antineurofilament (NF - med. m.w.), and anti-Thy-1 it is possible to recognize cells of neural crest origin within the postnatal thymic cellular microenvironment. Evidence has been collected concerning such connections between the nervous system and the thymus, such as the production of neuropeptides, oxytocin, and neurophysin by the thymus. Our immunohistochemical study was carried out on quick-frozen sections of human postnatal thymuses removed during open heart surgery, employing an indirect, alkaline phosphatase conjugated streptavidin-biotin technique. The employed MoABs reacted with the subcapsular (outer cortex) thymic nurse cells (TNCs) and with medullary RE cells, in close contact with already mature, immunocompetent T lymphocytes ready to leave the thymic microenvironment and enter the peripheral blood. The thymic medulla's strong immunoreactivity with A2B5, which binds to the GQ ganglioside, is typical for peptide secreting cells often migrated from the neural crest. A2B5+, Thy-1+ IP was demonstrated on the large TNCs. Cortical RE cells showed reactivity with UJ127.11, UJ223.8, and UJ308. Dense expression of neural crest antigens was detected in the Hassall's bodies (HBs) employing MoABs UJ223.8, UJ308, 215.D11, and 275.G7. These results suggest a neural crest origin for TNCs and for 20% to 30% of the cells of thymic microenvironment. The outer (peripheral) part of the HBs contained functionally very active RE cells. These RE cells also expressed antigens characteristic of the neural crest, detectable with MoABs UJ127.11, UJ223.8, UJ308, J1153, 215.D11, 275.G7 and A2B5.
Bodey
B
B
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
Bodey
B
B
Siegel
S E
SE
Kemshead
J T
JT
Kaiser
H E
HE
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002645:Chickens; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal