Characterization of prethymic progenitors within the chicken embryo.
The thymic primordium in both birds and mammals is first colonized by cells emerging from the intra-embryonic mesenchyme but the nature of these precursors is poorly understood. We demonstrate here an early embryonic day 7 prethymic population with T lymphoid potential. Our work is a phenotypic analysis of, to date, the earliest embryonic prethymic progenitors arising in the avian para-aortic area during ontogeny. The phenotype of these cells, expressing the cell surface molecules alpha2beta1 integrin, c-kit, thrombomucin/MEP21, HEMCAM and chL12, reflects functional properties required for cell adhesion, migration and growth factor responsiveness. Importantly, the presence of these antigens was found to correlate with the recolonization of the recipient thymus following intrathymic cell transfers. These intra-embryonic cells were also found to express the Ikaros transcription factor, the molecular function of which is considered to be prerequisite for embryonic lymphoid development.
Turku Immunology Centre, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Turku, Finland.
M
M
Lampisuo
J
J
Liippo
O
O
Vainio
K M
KM
McNagny
J
J
Kulmala
O
O
Lassila
D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D030161:Avian Proteins; D051929:CD146 Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051740:Ikaros Transcription Factor; D016023:Integrins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000302:isolation & purification; D038981:Receptors, Collagen; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D030161:Avian Proteins; D051929:CD146 Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016023:Integrins; D038981:Receptors, Collagen; D014157:Transcription Factors; C086935:gicerin protein, Gallus gallus; C108426:thrombomucin protein, Gallus; D051740:Ikaros Transcription Factor; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit