title: Human thymic epithelial primary cells produce exosomes carrying tissue-restricted antigens.
abstract: Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles released by cells into the extracellular space and have been shown to be present in thymic tissue both in mice and in humans. The source of thymic exosomes is however still an enigma and hence it is not known whether thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are able to produce exosomes. In this work, we have cultured human TECs and isolated exosomes. These exosomes carry tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs), for example, myelin basic protein and desmoglein 3. The presence of TRAs indicates a possible role for thymic epithelium-derived exosomes in the selection process of thymocytes. The key contribution of these exosomes could be to disseminate self-antigens from the thymic epithelia, thus making them more accessible to the pool of maturing thymocytes. This would increase the coverage of TRAs within the thymus, and facilitate the process of positive and negative selection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Skogberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Vanja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.|Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gudmundsdottir
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Esbjörn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Telemo
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.|Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.|Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Olov
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ekwall
mesh_terms: D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055354:Exosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010641:Phenotype; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D020543:Proteome; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001324:Autoantigens; D020543:Proteome; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex