Regulation of early chicken thymocyte proliferation by transforming growth factor-beta from thymic stromal cells and thymocytes.
We examined expression of TGF-betas in chicken thymic stromal cells and thymocytes and roles of TGF-betas in thymocyte development within the thymus. Thymic stromal cells expressed TGF-beta 2 and 3 genes but not TGF-beta 4 gene. Thymocytes showed expressions of TGF-beta 2, 3 and 4 genes and each TGF-beta gene was expressed more strongly in CD3- than CD3+ thymocytes. When anti-TGF-beta antibody was added with supernatants of stromal cells into thymocyte culture, only proliferative activity of CD3- thymocytes was enhanced and the cells in S and G2/M compartments of cell cycle increased. These results suggest that TGF-beta which is expressed in the thymus may regulate the ability of immature thymocytes to progress through the cell cycle and to differentiate to CD3+ thymocytes.
Mukamoto
M
M
Laboratory of Veterinary Immunology, Department of Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, 599-8531, Osaka, Japan.
Kodama
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002455:Cell Division; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D017252:CD3 Complex; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta