title: EVA regulates thymic stromal organisation and early thymocyte development.
abstract: Epithelial V-like antigen (EVA) is an immunoglobulin-like adhesion molecule identified in a screen for molecules developmentally regulated at the DN to DP progression in thymocyte development. We show that EVA is expressed during the early stages of thymus organogenesis in both fetal thymic epithelia and T cell precursors, and is progressively downregulated from day 16.5 of embryonic development. In the postnatal thymus, EVA expression is restricted to epithelial cells and is distributed throughout both cortical and medullary thymic regions. Transgenic overexpression of EVA in the thymus cortex resulted in a modified stromal environment, which elicited an increase in organ size and absolute cell number. Although peripheral T lymphocyte numbers are augmented throughout life, no imbalance either in the repertoire, or in the different T cell subsets was detected. Collectively, these data suggest a role for EVA in structural organisation of the thymus and early lymphocyte development.
authors.affiliation: San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: DeMonte
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porcellini
authors.forename: Elisiana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tafi
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheridan
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Depreter
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panigada
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sanvito
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Merati
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albientz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barthlott
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ozmen
authors.forename: C Clare
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Blackburn
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guttinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C504470:Eva1 protein, mouse