Thymic hormone containing cells—IX. Steroids in vitro modulate thymulin secretion by human and murine thymic epithelial cells

1988 ◽  
Vol 30 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 479-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Savino ◽  
E. Bartoccioni ◽  
F. Homo-Delarche ◽  
M.Cl. Gagnerault ◽  
T. Itoh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells ◽  
Thymic Hormone

scholarly journals Role of Prolactin and Growth Hormone on Thymus Physiology

1998 ◽  
Vol 6 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 317-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valéria De Mello-Coelho ◽  
Wilson Savino ◽  
Marie-Catherine Postel-Vinay ◽  
Mireille Dardenne
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Pituitary Hormones ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Gh Treatment ◽  
Thymic Hormone

Intrathymic T-cell differentiation is under the control of the thymic microenvironment, which acts on maturing thymocytes via membrane as well as soluble products. Increasing data show that this process can be modulated by classical hormones, as exemplified herein by prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH), largely secreted by the pituitary gland.Both PRL and GH stimulate the secretion of thymulin, a thymic hormone produced by thymic epithelial cells. Conversely, low levels of circulating thymulin parallel hypopituitary states. Interestingly, the enhancing effects of GH on thymulin seem to be mediated by insulinlike growth factor (IGF-1) since they can be abrogated with anti-IGF-1 or anti-IGF-l-receptor antibodies. The influence of PRL and GH on the thymic epithelium is pleiotropic: PRL enhancesin vivothe expression of high-molecular-weight cytokeratins and stimulatesin vitroTEC proliferation, an effect that is shared by GH and IGF-1.Differentiating T cells are also targets for the intrathymic action of PRL and GH.In vivoinoculation of a rat pituitary cell line into old rats results in restoration of the thymus, including differentiation of CD4-CD8-thymocytes into CD4+CD8+cells. Furthermore, PRL may regulate the maintenance of thymocyte viability during the double-positive stage of thymocyte differentiation.Injections of GH into aging mice increase total thymocyte numbers and the percentage of CD3-bearing cells, as well as the Concanavalin-A mitogenic response and IL-6 production by thymocytes. Interestingly, similar findings are observed in animals treated with IGF-1. Lastly, the thymic hypoplasia observed in dwarf mice can be reversed with GH treatment.In keeping with the data summarized earlier is the detection of receptors for PRL and GH on both thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells. Importantly, recent studies indicate that both cell types can produce PRL and GH intrathymically. Similarly, production of IGF-1 and expression of a corresponding receptor has also been demonstrated.In conclusion, these data strongly indicate that the thymus is physiologically under control of pituitary hormones PRL and GH. In addition to the classical endocrine pathway, paracrine and autocrine circuits are probably implicated in such control.

scholarly journals Production of anti-thymulin (FTS) monoclonal antibodies by immunization against human thymic epithelial cells.

1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 432-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Berrih ◽  
W Savino ◽  
M Azoulay ◽  
M Dardenne ◽  
J F Bach
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells ◽  
Mouse Serum ◽  
Thymic Hormone ◽  
Double Labeling ◽  
Natural Hormone

A monoclonal antibody specific for thymulin (FTS), a thymic hormone initially isolated from serum, was obtained by cell fusion using spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with cultured human thymic epithelial cells. Hybridomas were selected according to their capacity to produce antibodies binding specifically to thymic epithelial cells in culture (as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence) and their ability to absorb in vitro the biological activity of synthetic and natural hormone preparations and to induce in vivo the disappearance of endogenous circulating thymulin. In this way monoclonal antibodies were obtained that recognized a subpopulation of nonlymphoid cells on frozen sections of mouse and human thymuses. The epithelial nature of these cells was assessed using an antikeratin antiserum. The binding of the antibodies to thymic cells was completely abolished by its absorption with the synthetic hormone or normal (but not of thymectomized) mouse serum. The thymic specificity of the antibody was further confirmed by the complete absence of binding to sections of all the various lymphoid and epithelial organs examined (from both humans and mice). Double labeling experiments using the monoclonal antibody described above and a monoclonal antibody prepared by immunization with the synthetic peptide showed that the two antibodies bound to the same cell. These results provide further evidence for the exclusive presence of the thymic hormone thymulin in thymic epithelial cells.

Human thymic epithelial cells maintain long-term survival of clonogenic myeloid and erythroid progenitor cells in vitro

2000 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 363-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuto Takenaka ◽  
Mine Harada ◽  
Tomoaki Fujisaki ◽  
Koji Nagafuji ◽  
Shinichi Mizuno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells ◽  
Erythroid Progenitor ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Long Term Survival ◽  
Erythroid Progenitor Cells

scholarly journals Modulation of IGF2 Expression in the Murine Thymus and Thymic Epithelial Cells Following Coxsackievirus-B4 Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 402
Author(s):  
Hélène Michaux ◽  
Aymen Halouani ◽  
Charlotte Trussart ◽  
Chantal Renard ◽  
Hela Jaïdane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Coxsackievirus B4 ◽  
Gene Coding ◽  
Self Tolerance ◽  
Stat3 Phosphorylation ◽  
The Stability

Coxsackievirus B4 (CV-B4) can infect human and murine thymic epithelial cells (TECs). In a murine TEC cell line, CV-B4 can downregulate the transcription of the insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2) gene coding for the self-peptide of the insulin family. In this study, we show that CV-B4 infections of a murine TEC cell line decreased Igf2 P3 promoter activity by targeting a region near the transcription start site; however, the stability of Igf2 transcripts remained unchanged, indicating a regulation of Igf2 transcription. Furthermore, CV-B4 infections decreased STAT3 phosphorylation in vitro. We also showed that mice infected with CV-B4 had an altered expression of Igf2 isoforms as detected in TECs, followed by a decrease in the pro-IGF2 precursor in the thymus. Our study sheds new light on the intrathymic regulation of Igf2 transcription during CV-B4 infections and supports the hypothesis that a viral infection can disrupt central self-tolerance to insulin by decreasing Igf2 transcription in the thymic epithelium.

Effects of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and PCB 126 on human thymic epithelial cells in vitro

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 358-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Riecke ◽  
André Schmidt ◽  
Ralf Stahlmann
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells ◽  
Pcb 126

scholarly journals Human thymocytes bind to autologous and allogeneic thymic epithelial cells in vitro.

1986 ◽  
Vol 83 (17) ◽  
pp. 6588-6592 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. H. Singer ◽  
L. S. Wolf ◽  
D. F. Lobach ◽  
S. M. Denning ◽  
D. T. Tuck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells

scholarly journals Thymic hormone-containing cells. V. Immunohistological detection of metallothionein within the cells bearing thymulin (a zinc-containing hormone) in human and mouse thymuses.

1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 942-946 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Savino ◽  
P C Huang ◽  
A Corrigan ◽  
S Berrih ◽  
M Dardenne
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cell Organelles ◽  
Thymic Hormone ◽  
Double Labeling ◽  
Active Structure ◽  
Transitional Metals ◽  
Zinc Storage ◽  
High Binding Affinity

Using an immunofluorescence (IF) assay, the presence of metallothionein (MT) was investigated in sections of normal and pathologic human thymuses as well as in cultures of thymic epithelial cells. This protein, known to have a high binding affinity for class II B transitional metals, such as zinc, was detected in the epithelial component of the thymus. Moreover, double labeling experiments with the anti-MT and an anti-thymulin monoclonal antibody showed that all cells containing thymulin, a thymic hormone whose active structure is known to contain zinc, also exhibited large amounts of metallothionein. These results, together with the fact that zinc and thymulin have been detected in the same type of cell organelles, lead to the conclusion that the MT present in thymic epithelial cells might be involved in the mechanism of zinc storage in these cells, thus favoring the secretion of thymulin in its biologically active, zinc-containing form.

In vitro growth and maintenance of two morphologically distinct populations of thymic epithelial cells

1985 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 439-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.C. Nieburgs ◽  
P.T. Picciano ◽  
J.H. Korn ◽  
T. McCalister ◽  
C. Allred ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells ◽  
In Vitro Growth

Upregulated Expression of Fibronectin Receptors Underlines the Adhesive Capability of Thymocytes to Thymic Epithelial Cells During the Early Stages of Differentiation: Lessons From Sublethally Irradiated Mice

Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 974-990
Author(s):  
Sergio R. Dalmau ◽  
Claudia S. Freitas ◽  
Wilson Savino
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cell Attachment ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Enhanced Expression ◽  
Single Positive ◽  
Young Stage ◽  
And Function

A 250-cGy whole-body γ-radiation dose was used to induce thymus regression in mice, and to study the expression and function of extracellular matrix (ECM) receptors in distinct thymocyte subsets emerging during repopulation of the organ. The onset of regeneration was detected from day 2 to 3 postirradiation (P-Ir), when a remarkable increase in the absolute counts of CD3−CD25hiCD44+ and CD3−CD25in/hiCD44−cells occurred. Enhanced expression of L-selectin, 4, and 5 integrin chains (L-selhi 4hi5hi) was also exhibited by these cells. This pattern of expression was maintained until the CD4+CD8+ (DP) young stage was achieved. Afterward, there was a general downregulation of these ECM receptors in DP as well as in CD4+ or CD8+ single positive (SP) thymocytes (L-selin 4in5in). In some recently generated SP cells, 4 expression was downregulated before the 5 chain, and L-selectin was upregulated in half of more mature cells. The expression of the 6 integrin chain was downregulated only in maturing CD4+cells. Importantly, the increased expression of L-selectin and 4 and 5 chains in thymocytes was strongly correlated with their adhesiveness to thymic epithelial cells (TEC) in vitro. Blocking experiments with monoclonal antibody or peptides showed the following: (1) that the LDV rather than the REDV cell attachment motif in the IIIC segment of fibronectin is targeted by the 4 integrin during thymocyte/TEC adhesion; (2) that the RGD motif of the 120-kD fragment of fibronectin, a target for 5 integrin, has a secondary role in this adhesion; and (3) that the YIGSR cell attachment motif of the β1 chain of laminin/merosin recognized by a nonintegrin receptor is not used for thymocyte adherence. In conclusion, our results show that an upregulated set of receptors endows CD25+ precursors and cells up to the young DP stage with a high capability of interacting with thymic ECM components.

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