Biomaterial Database

T-cell differentiation in thymus organ cultures. 1990

E J Jenkinson, and J J Owen

Department of Anatomy, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, UK.

Fetal thymus organ cultures support a full range of T-cell precursor differentiation in vitro, including TCR gene rearrangement and expression. This provides an accessible model system in which the intra-thymic regulation of T-cell development can be investigated. Thymus organ cultures can be manipulated by adding antibodies to block different cell surface components on stromal or lymphoid elements. In addition, it is possible to deplete thymus lobes of their lymphoid cells and recolonize them with T-cell precursors of a different MHC haplotype to produce chimeric lobes. Recolonization can also be achieved with defined numbers or types of precursor cells, including a single micro-manipulated cell. These approaches have been used to obtain information on the signals regulating intra-thymic proliferation, T-cell lineage relationships, antigen receptor diversification within the thymus and the cellular interactions and intracellular mechanisms regulating selection of the antigen receptor repertoire.

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
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
D005333	Fetus	The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN.	Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal
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
D015329	Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte	Ordered rearrangement of T-cell variable gene regions coding for the antigen receptors.	Gene Rearrangement, T-Cell Antigen Receptor,T-Cell Gene Rearrangement,T-Lymphocyte Gene Rearrangement,Gene Rearrangement, T-Cell,Gene Rearrangement, T Cell,Gene Rearrangement, T Cell Antigen Receptor,Gene Rearrangement, T Lymphocyte,Gene Rearrangements, T-Cell,Gene Rearrangements, T-Lymphocyte,Rearrangement, T-Cell Gene,Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte Gene,Rearrangements, T-Cell Gene,Rearrangements, T-Lymphocyte Gene,T Cell Gene Rearrangement,T Lymphocyte Gene Rearrangement,T-Cell Gene Rearrangements,T-Lymphocyte Gene Rearrangements