Involvement of E-cadherin in thymus organogenesis and thymocyte maturation.
We examined the role of E-cadherin expressed by thymic epithelial cells and immature thymocytes in thymus organogenesis and thymocyte development. ECCD-1 MAb, which blocks homotypic E-cadherin interactions, inhibited epithelial organization and thymocyte development in reaggregate fetal thymic organ cultures. It also interfered with the differentiation of fetal liver cells or fetal thymocytes within deoxyguanosine-treated thymic lobes, but did not affect thymocyte development in intact cultured fetal thymic lobes. In contrast, antibodies that selectively inhibit interactions between E-cadherin and alpha(E)beta7 integrins did not perturb thymic epithelial organization or thymocyte development, suggesting that homotypic E-cadherin interactions play an important role in thymus development and function.
Müller
K M
KM
Department of Biological Structure, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
Luedecker
C J
CJ
Udey
M C
MC
Farr
A G
AG
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology
D015820:Cadherins