Biomaterial Database

Thymocyte subpopulations: an experimental review, including flow cytometric cross-correlations between the major murine thymocyte markers. 1983

R Scollay, and K Shortman

Many markers have been used to define thymocyte subpopulations. The literature gives discordant values on their relative proportions, and suggests that many thymocytes must have phenotypes intermediate between those of the dominant subsets. To clarify these issues, a reassessment of murine thymus subpopulations has been made, using internally consistent, quantitative correlations of most of the established markers. Peanut agglutinin (PNA) receptor, Thy 1, H-2, TL, Ly 1 and Ly 2, have been examined and correlated with each other, and with cell size, physical parameters, cortisone sensitivity and anatomical location. The analysis utilised mainly monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry but also included differential complement-mediated cytotoxicity. The results show that there are two clearly defined major subpopulations, medullary cells (15% of the total) and cortical cells (85% of the total). These are most clearly distinguished by the combined use of PNA and Thy 1 markers, medullary cells (like peripheral T cells) being low for both, cortical cells being high for both. Cortisone-resistant cells represent about 25% of all medullary cells, which indicates that most medullary cells, as well as all cortical cells, are cortisone sensitive. Amongst the non-dividing thymocytes there are few cells that can be considered of intermediate phenotype when a multiparameter approach is used. The situation for the dividing blast cells is more complex, with some displaying apparent 'intermediate' marker combinations. However, three major subdivisions of blasts stand out, namely medullary blasts, cortical Ly 1+2+ blasts and cortical Ly 1-2- blasts. The cortical population in general contains only Ly 1+2+ and Ly 1-2- cells, but no (or few) Ly 1+2- cells. In contrast, the medullary population contains both Ly 1+2- and Ly 1+2+ cells, in similar proportions to peripheral T cells. An important conclusion of the study is that although no single marker can give an adequate definition and clean separation of subpopulations, quantitative multiparameter analysis can achieve these objectives.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008285	Major Histocompatibility Complex	The genetic region which contains the loci of genes which determine the structure of the serologically defined (SD) and lymphocyte-defined (LD) TRANSPLANTATION ANTIGENS, genes which control the structure of the IMMUNE RESPONSE-ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS, HUMAN; the IMMUNE RESPONSE GENES which control the ability of an animal to respond immunologically to antigenic stimuli, and genes which determine the structure and/or level of the first four components of complement.	Histocompatibility Complex,Complex, Histocompatibility,Complex, Major Histocompatibility,Complices, Histocompatibility,Complices, Major Histocompatibility,Histocompatibility Complex, Major,Histocompatibility Complices,Histocompatibility Complices, Major,Major Histocompatibility Complices
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
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D002499	Centrifugation, Density Gradient	Separation of particles according to density by employing a gradient of varying densities. At equilibrium each particle settles in the gradient at a point equal to its density. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Centrifugations, Density Gradient,Density Gradient Centrifugation,Density Gradient Centrifugations,Gradient Centrifugation, Density,Gradient Centrifugations, Density
D004586	Electrophoresis	An electrochemical process in which macromolecules or colloidal particles with a net electric charge migrate in a solution under the influence of an electric current.	Electrophoreses
D005434	Flow Cytometry	Technique using an instrument system for making, processing, and displaying one or more measurements on individual cells obtained from a cell suspension. Cells are usually stained with one or more fluorescent dyes specific to cell components of interest, e.g., DNA, and fluorescence of each cell is measured as it rapidly transverses the excitation beam (laser or mercury arc lamp). Fluorescence provides a quantitative measure of various biochemical and biophysical properties of the cell, as well as a basis for cell sorting. Other measurable optical parameters include light absorption and light scattering, the latter being applicable to the measurement of cell size, shape, density, granularity, and stain uptake.	Cytofluorometry, Flow,Cytometry, Flow,Flow Microfluorimetry,Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting,Microfluorometry, Flow,Cell Sorting, Fluorescence-Activated,Cell Sortings, Fluorescence-Activated,Cytofluorometries, Flow,Cytometries, Flow,Flow Cytofluorometries,Flow Cytofluorometry,Flow Cytometries,Flow Microfluorometries,Flow Microfluorometry,Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting,Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sortings,Microfluorimetry, Flow,Microfluorometries, Flow,Sorting, Fluorescence-Activated Cell,Sortings, Fluorescence-Activated Cell
D000305	Adrenal Cortex Hormones	HORMONES produced by the ADRENAL CORTEX, including both steroid and peptide hormones. The major hormones produced are HYDROCORTISONE and ALDOSTERONE.	Adrenal Cortex Hormone,Corticoid,Corticoids,Corticosteroid,Corticosteroids,Cortex Hormone, Adrenal,Hormone, Adrenal Cortex,Hormones, Adrenal Cortex
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
D000954	Antigens, Surface	Antigens on surfaces of cells, including infectious or foreign cells or viruses. They are usually protein-containing groups on cell membranes or walls and may be isolated.	Cell Surface Antigens,Surface Antigens,Surface Markers, Immunological,Cell Surface Antigen,Immunologic Surface Markers,Markers, Immunological Surface,Surface Antigen,Surface Markers, Immunologic,Antigen, Cell Surface,Antigen, Surface,Antigens, Cell Surface,Immunological Surface Markers,Markers, Immunologic Surface,Surface Antigen, Cell,Surface Antigens, Cell