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A TIRF Microscopy Technique for Real-time, Simultaneous Imaging of the TCR and its Associated Signaling Proteins
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Published on: March 22, 2012

Cellular and matrix interactions during the development of T lymphocytes

J J Owen1, D E McLoughlin, R K Suniara

  • 1Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK. d.jones.1@bham.ac.uk

Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research = Revista Brasileira De Pesquisas Medicas E Biologicas
|July 21, 1999
PubMed

The thymus contains an extensive extracellular matrix. Although thymocytes express integrins capable of binding to matrix molecules, the functional significance of the matrix for T cell development is uncertain. We have shown that the matrix is associated with thymic fibroblasts which are required for the CD44+ CD25+ stage of double negative (CD4-8-) thymocyte development. The survival of cells at this stage is dependent on IL-7 and we propose that the role of fibroblasts is to present, via the matrix, IL-7 to developing T cells.

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