title: The role of mesenchyme in thymus development.
abstract: We have reviewed the evidence that thymic mesenchymal cells and their progeny thymic fibroblasts play an important role in early T-cell development. Although it is possible that mesenchyme plays an inductive role in thymic epithelial morphogenesis, we have presented evidence to suggest that there is a direct effect of mesenchyme and fibroblasts on T-cell development. Moreover the association of these cell types with an ECM raises the possibility that the latter might be important in integrin and/or cytokine presentation especially during the CD4(-)8- phase of T-cell development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: McLoughlin
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Suniara
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000196:embryology*