Development of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells: IV. Differentiation to mature T and B lymphocytes after implantation of embryoid bodies into nude mice.
Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells in culture can differentiate into late stages of many lineage-committed precursor cells. Under appropriate organ-culture conditions, ES cells differentiate into lymphoidlike cells at a stage equivalent to lymphoid cells found in fetal liver. These hematopoietic precursors are located in cup-shaped structures found in some embryoid bodies; we called such embryoid bodies "ES fetuses." In this study, we have followed the maturation of hematopoietic cells after implantation of ES fetuses into nude mice for 3 weeks. ES-cell-derived lymphoid cells-pre-B cells, mature B cells, and mature T cells were found in all lymphoid organs. Interestingly, there was also an increase of T cells of host origin. Because native nude mouse lack thymus, these T cells might be educated by thymuslike epithelium generated from ES fetuses. Practical applications of this combined in vitro and in vivo system are discussed.
Chen
U
U
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
Mok
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D002678:Chimera / Q000276:immunology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008819:Mice, Nude; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*