title: Thymic cytoarchitecture changes in mice exposed to vanadium.
abstract: The thymus is a vital immune system organ wherein selection of T-lymphocytes occurs in a process regulated by dendritic and epithelial thymic cells. Previously, we have reported that in a mouse model of vanadium inhalation, a decrease in CD11c dendritic cells was observed. In the present study, we report on a thymic cortex-medulla distribution distortion in these hosts due to apparent effects of the inhaled vanadium on cytokeratin-5 (K5+) epithelial cells in the same mouse model - after 1, 2, and 4 weeks of exposure - by immunohistochemistry. These cells - together with dendritic cells - eliminate autoreactive T-cell clones and regulate the production of regulatory T-cells in situ. Because both cell types are involved in the negative selection of autoreactive clones, a potential for an increase in development of autoimmune conditions could be a possible consequence among individuals who might be exposed often to vanadium in air pollution, including dwellers of highly polluted cities with elevated levels of particulate matter onto which vanadium is often adsorbed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular and Tissue Biology , School of Medicine, National University of Mexico (UNAM ), Mexico City , Mexico.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ustarroz-Cano
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular and Tissue Biology , School of Medicine, National University of Mexico (UNAM ), Mexico City , Mexico.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garcia-Pelaez
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular and Tissue Biology , School of Medicine, National University of Mexico (UNAM ), Mexico City , Mexico.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cervantes-Yepez
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular and Tissue Biology , School of Medicine, National University of Mexico (UNAM ), Mexico City , Mexico.
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lopez-Valdez
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular and Tissue Biology , School of Medicine, National University of Mexico (UNAM ), Mexico City , Mexico.
authors.forename: Teresa I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Fortoul
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D039521:CD11c Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication; D017637:Clonal Deletion; D002999:Clone Cells; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D001239:Inhalation; D053555:Keratin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000276:immunology* / Q000633:toxicity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D014639:Vanadium / Q000276:immunology* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D039521:CD11c Antigen; D053555:Keratin-5; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014639:Vanadium
keywords: Vanadium; cytoarchitecture; cytokeratin-5; immunohistochemistry; inhalation; medulla–cortex; thymus