Biomaterial Database

Identification of murine thymocyte populations capable of extensive proliferation in serially passaged thymic organ cultures. 1992

L Larsson, and R Hicks, and A G Fisher

ICRF Human Tumour Immunology Group, London, U.K.

Using the approach of titrating precursor cells into mouse thymus organ cultures and serial passage, we have sought to compare the proliferative capacities of cells derived from adult and embryonic thymus and related haemopoietic tissues. We find that cells derived from the liver and thymus of day 14 embryos are capable of extensive proliferation in such cultures (surviving for at least 12 weeks) whereas cells derived from adult sources (blood and thymus) display a much more restricted lifespan and potential for division. Analysis of sequentially passaged thymic lobes shows that cells lacking CD4 and CD8 (CD4- and CD8-) and a subset of single CD8 positives are selectively expanded in these cultures. A preliminary study of the CD4-CD8- populations in these lobes suggest that these include cells expressing surface CD3 (in association with either TCR alpha beta or TCR gamma delta) and a subset of CD4-CD8-CD3-. These findings suggest that sequential passage of thymocytes in organ culture may be a useful alternative strategy for characterising cells with high proliferative potential, resident in the thymus and also for probing their lineage relationships.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008213	Lymphocyte Activation	Morphologic alteration of small B LYMPHOCYTES or T LYMPHOCYTES in culture into large blast-like cells able to synthesize DNA and RNA and to divide mitotically. It is induced by INTERLEUKINS; MITOGENS such as PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININS, and by specific ANTIGENS. It may also occur in vivo as in GRAFT REJECTION.	Blast Transformation,Blastogenesis,Lymphoblast Transformation,Lymphocyte Stimulation,Lymphocyte Transformation,Transformation, Blast,Transformation, Lymphoblast,Transformation, Lymphocyte,Activation, Lymphocyte,Stimulation, Lymphocyte
D008806	Mice, Inbred AKR	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in IMMUNOLOGY studies and cancer research.	Mice, AKR,Mouse, AKR,Mouse, Inbred AKR,AKR Mice,AKR Mice, Inbred,AKR Mouse,AKR Mouse, Inbred,Inbred AKR Mice,Inbred AKR Mouse
D008807	Mice, Inbred BALB C	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in IMMUNOLOGY studies and cancer research.	BALB C Mice, Inbred,BALB C Mouse, Inbred,Inbred BALB C Mice,Inbred BALB C Mouse,Mice, BALB C,Mouse, BALB C,Mouse, Inbred BALB C,BALB C Mice,BALB C Mouse
D009924	Organ Culture Techniques	A technique for maintenance or growth of animal organs in vitro. It refers to three-dimensional cultures of undisaggregated tissue retaining some or all of the histological features of the tissue in vivo. (Freshney, Culture of Animal Cells, 3d ed, p1)	Organ Culture,Culture Technique, Organ,Culture Techniques, Organ,Organ Culture Technique,Organ Cultures
D011948	Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell	Molecules on the surface of T-lymphocytes that recognize and combine with antigens. The receptors are non-covalently associated with a complex of several polypeptides collectively called CD3 antigens (CD3 COMPLEX). Recognition of foreign antigen and the major histocompatibility complex is accomplished by a single heterodimeric antigen-receptor structure, composed of either alpha-beta (RECEPTORS, ANTIGEN, T-CELL, ALPHA-BETA) or gamma-delta (RECEPTORS, ANTIGEN, T-CELL, GAMMA-DELTA) chains.	Antigen Receptors, T-Cell,T-Cell Receptors,Receptors, T-Cell Antigen,T-Cell Antigen Receptor,T-Cell Receptor,Antigen Receptor, T-Cell,Antigen Receptors, T Cell,Receptor, T-Cell,Receptor, T-Cell Antigen,Receptors, T Cell Antigen,Receptors, T-Cell,T Cell Antigen Receptor,T Cell Receptor,T Cell Receptors,T-Cell Antigen Receptors
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000945	Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte	Antigens expressed on the cell membrane of T-lymphocytes during differentiation, activation, and normal and neoplastic transformation. Their phenotypic characterization is important in differential diagnosis and studies of thymic ontogeny and T-cell function.	Antigens, Differentiation, T-Cell,Differentiation Antigens, T-Cell,L3T4 Antigens,Leu Antigens, T-Lymphocyte,T-Cell Differentiation Antigens,T-Lymphocyte Differentiation Antigens,T6 Antigens,Antigens, Differentiation, T Lymphocyte,Differentiation Antigens, T Lymphocyte,Antigens, L3T4,Antigens, T-Cell Differentiation,Antigens, T-Lymphocyte Differentiation,Antigens, T-Lymphocyte Leu,Antigens, T6,Differentiation Antigens, T Cell,Differentiation Antigens, T-Lymphocyte,Leu Antigens, T Lymphocyte,T Cell Differentiation Antigens,T Lymphocyte Differentiation Antigens,T-Lymphocyte Leu Antigens
D013601	T-Lymphocytes	Lymphocytes responsible for cell-mediated immunity. Two types have been identified - cytotoxic (T-LYMPHOCYTES, CYTOTOXIC) and helper T-lymphocytes (T-LYMPHOCYTES, HELPER-INDUCER). They are formed when lymphocytes circulate through the THYMUS GLAND and differentiate to thymocytes. When exposed to an antigen, they divide rapidly and produce large numbers of new T cells sensitized to that antigen.	T Cell,T Lymphocyte,T-Cells,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocytes,Cell, T,Cells, T,Lymphocyte, T,Lymphocyte, Thymus-Dependent,Lymphocytes, T,Lymphocytes, Thymus-Dependent,T Cells,T Lymphocytes,T-Cell,T-Lymphocyte,Thymus Dependent Lymphocytes,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocyte
D013950	Thymus Gland	A single, unpaired primary lymphoid organ situated in the MEDIASTINUM, extending superiorly into the neck to the lower edge of the THYROID GLAND and inferiorly to the fourth costal cartilage. It is necessary for normal development of immunologic function early in life. By puberty, it begins to involute and much of the tissue is replaced by fat.	Thymus,Gland, Thymus,Glands, Thymus,Thymus Glands
D015704	CD4 Antigens	55-kDa antigens found on HELPER-INDUCER T-LYMPHOCYTES and on a variety of other immune cell types. They are members of the immunoglobulin supergene family and are implicated as associative recognition elements in MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX class II-restricted immune responses. On T-lymphocytes they define the helper/inducer subset. T4 antigens also serve as INTERLEUKIN-15 receptors and bind to the HIV receptors, binding directly to the HIV ENVELOPE PROTEIN GP120.	Antigens, CD4,CD4 Molecule,CD4 Receptor,CD4 Receptors,Receptors, CD4,T4 Antigens, T-Cell,CD4 Antigen,Receptors, Surface CD4,Surface CD4 Receptor,Antigen, CD4,Antigens, T-Cell T4,CD4 Receptor, Surface,CD4 Receptors, Surface,Receptor, CD4,Surface CD4 Receptors,T-Cell T4 Antigens,T4 Antigens, T Cell