title: A thymic nurse cell-specific monoclonal antibody.
abstract: A thymic epithelial cell line (tsTNC-1) that maintains the ability to selectively bind and internalize immature alpha beta TCRloCD4+CD8+ thymocytes in vitro was used in the development of a monoclonal antibody that is specific to the cell surface of thymic nurse cells (TNCs) in the thymus. The rat monoclonal antibody ph91 showed specificity to cells of the subcapsular region of the thymic cortex. Upon mechanical dispersion of the thymus in vitro, ph91 recognized cells displaying the multicellular morphology unique to TNCs. Ph91 staining was not detected on fresh thymocytes, stromal cells of the inner thymic cortex, thymic medullary cells, B cells or fibroblasts. Ph91 recognized a 43-kDa protein on the surface of TNCs. Exposure of tsTNC-1 cells to ph91 in tissue culture significantly reduced the percentage of binding of the alpha beta TCRloCD4+CD8+ thymocyte subset previously shown to target TNCs. In organ culture, ph91 reduced the viability of developing thymocytes by 70%. The largest reduction was found in the alpha beta TCR+CD4+CD8+ thymocyte subset. These results represent the first report of a TNC-specific monoclonal antibody. Further, the antigen to which ph91 binds may play a role in the process of thymocyte binding and their subsequent internalization which is unique to TNCs and important to the T cell developmental process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, City College of New York 10031, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pezzano
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Philp
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adeyemi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samms
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boto
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Guyden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D006131:Growth Inhibitors