title: Intrathymic T-cell migration: a combinatorial interplay of extracellular matrix and chemokines?
abstract: Cell migration is crucial for intrathymic T-cell differentiation. Chemokines and extracellular matrix proteins per se induce thymocyte migration, and recent data suggest a combinatorial role for these molecules in this event. For example, thymocyte migration induced by fibronectin plus CXCL12/SDF1-alpha (stromal cell-derived factor1-alpha) is higher than that elicited by the chemokine alone. If such interactions are relevant in the thymus, abnormal expression of any of these ligands and/or their corresponding receptors will lead to defects in thymocyte migration. At least in the murine model of Chagas disease, this seems to be the case. Therefore a better knowledge of this complex biological circuitry will provide new clues for understanding thymus physiology and designing therapeutic strategies targeting developing T cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory on Thymus Research, Dept of Immunology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ave Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. savino@gene.dbbm.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: Daniella A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mendes-da-Cruz
authors.forename: João S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dardenne
authors.forename: Vinícius
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cotta-de-Almeida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D018925:Chemokines / Q000502:physiology*; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000494:pharmacology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D023421:Models, Animal; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000502:physiology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D018925:Chemokines; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; C515256:Cxcl12 protein, mouse; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases