Biomaterial Database

Thymic nurse cells: differentiation of thymocytes within complexes. 1991

R Brelińska, and H J Seidel, and L Kreja

Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Poznań, Poland.

Thymic nurse cell complexes (TNC-c) were isolated from thymuses of BDF1 mice at pre-determined intervals during the 12-week latency period that precedes the development of leukemias. T-cell leukemias were induced by a single i.v. injection of 50 mg/kg of methylnitrosourea (MNU). In order to clarify processes taking place in TNC-c, the complexes of mice after MNU injection were compared with TNC-c of age-matched control mice, with respect to their number per thymus, the distribution of TNC-c according to their size (the number of intra-TNC thymocytes reflects the type of TNC-c), the number of intra-TNC thymocytes that undergo DNA synthesis, and the phenotype of thymocytes inside TNC-c. During the latency period of leukemogenesis, the effects of MNU were shown to involve, in addition to changes in number of TNC-c, a decrease in the number of thymocytes incorporating labeled thymidine, viz., the number of dividing cells, thus affecting the size distribution of TNC-c types. Intra-TNC thymocytes of control mice were heterogeneous in their phenotype and represented cells at varying stages of their maturation cycle. MNU administration was followed by selective differentiation of thymocytes within TNC-c to Lyt 1-thymocytes in some and to Lyt 2-thymocytes in others. Lyt 1 and Lyt 2 being specific antigens expressed by thymocytes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008770	Methylnitrosourea	A nitrosourea compound with alkylating, carcinogenic, and mutagenic properties.	Nitrosomethylurea,N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea,NSC-23909,N Methyl N nitrosourea,NSC 23909,NSC23909
D010641	Phenotype	The outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of interactions between genes, and between the GENOTYPE and the environment.	Phenotypes
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
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
D000950	Antigens, Ly	A group of lymphocyte surface antigens located on mouse LYMPHOCYTES. Specific Ly antigens are useful markers for distinguishing subpopulations of lymphocytes.	Ly 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
D015458	Leukemia, T-Cell	A malignant disease of the T-LYMPHOCYTES in the bone marrow, thymus, and/or blood.	Leukemia, Lymphocytic, T-Cell,Lymphocytic Leukemia, T-Cell,T-Cell Leukemia,T-Lymphocytic Leukemia,Leukemia, Lymphocytic, T Cell,T Lymphocytic Leukemia,Leukemia, T Cell,Leukemia, T Lymphocytic,Leukemia, T-Cell Lymphocytic,Leukemia, T-Lymphocytic,Leukemias, T Lymphocytic,Leukemias, T-Cell,Leukemias, T-Cell Lymphocytic,Leukemias, T-Lymphocytic,Lymphocytic Leukemia, T,Lymphocytic Leukemia, T Cell,Lymphocytic Leukemias, T,Lymphocytic Leukemias, T-Cell,T Cell Leukemia,T Lymphocytic Leukemias,T-Cell Leukemias,T-Cell Lymphocytic Leukemia,T-Cell Lymphocytic Leukemias,T-Lymphocytic Leukemias
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus