Epithelial V-like antigen (EVA), a novel member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, expressed in embryonic epithelia with a potential role as homotypic adhesion molecule in thymus histogenesis.
Thymus development depends on a complex series of interactions between thymocytes and the stromal component of the organ. To identify regulated genes during this codependent developmental relationship, we have applied an RNA fingerprinting technique to the analysis of thymus expansion and maturation induced in recombinase-deficient mice injected with anti-CD3 antibodies. This approach led us to the identification of a gene encoding a new member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, named epithelial V-like antigen (EVA), which is expressed in thymus epithelium and strongly downregulated by thymocyte developmental progression. This gene is expressed in the thymus and in several epithelial structures early in embryogenesis. EVA is highly homologous to the myelin protein zero and, in thymus-derived epithelial cell lines, is poorly soluble in nonionic detergents, strongly suggesting an association to the cytoskeleton. Its capacity to mediate cell adhesion through a homophilic interaction and its selective regulation by T cell maturation might imply the participation of EVA in the earliest phases of thymus organogenesis.
Guttinger
M
M
Department of Biological and Technological Research (DIBIT), San Raffaele Scientific Institute (HSR), Università di Milano at DIBIT-HSR, I-20132 Milan, Italy. guttinger.maria@hsr.it
Sutti
F
F
Panigada
M
M
Porcellini
S
S
Merati
B
B
Mariani
M
M
Teesalu
T
T
Consalez
G G
GG
Grassi
F
F
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002460:Cell Line; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002880:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006224:Cricetinae; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009115:Muridae; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C504470:Eva1 protein, mouse; C112474:MPZL2 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C499311:RAG2 protein, human; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C064655:V(D)J recombination activating protein 2