title: The expression of netrin-1 in the thymus and its effects on thymocyte adhesion and migration.
abstract: Netrin-1, a known axon guidance molecule, being a secreted laminin-related molecule, has been suggested to be involved in multiple physiological and pathological conditions, such as organogenesis, angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, and inflammation-mediated tissue injury. However, its function in thymocyte development is still unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Netrin-1 is expressed in mouse thymus tissue and is primarily expressed in thymic stromal cells, and the expression of Netrin-1 in thymocytes can be induced by anti-CD3 antibody or IL-7 treatment. Importantly, Netrin-1 mediates the adhesion of thymocytes, and this effect is comparable to or greater than that of fibronectin. Furthermore, Netrin-1 specifically promotes the chemotaxis of CXCL12. These suggest that Netrin-1 may play an important role in thymocyte development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Ministry of Health), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Kai
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Ministry of Health), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Ministry of Health), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Ministry of Health), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-Yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Ministry of Health), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Ministry of Health), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Ministry of Health), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000075386:Netrin Receptors; D000075388:Netrin-1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060168:Thymocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D015851:Interleukin-7; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D000075386:Netrin Receptors; C000617353:Ntn1 protein, mouse; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000075388:Netrin-1