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Identification of murine thymocyte populations capable of extensive proliferation in serially passaged thymic organ
L Larsson1, R Hicks, A G Fisher
1ICRF Human Tumour Immunology Group, London, U.K.
Using the approach of titrating precursor cells into mouse thymus organ cultures and serial passage, we have sought to compare the proliferative capacities of cells derived from adult and embryonic thymus and related haemopoietic tissues. We find that cells derived from the liver and thymus of day 14 embryos are capable of extensive proliferation in such cultures (surviving for at least 12 weeks) whereas cells derived from adult sources (blood and thymus) display a much more restricted lifespan and potential for division. Analysis of sequentially passaged thymic lobes shows that cells lacking CD4 and CD8 (CD4- and CD8-) and a subset of single CD8 positives are selectively expanded in these cultures. A preliminary study of the CD4-CD8- populations in these lobes suggest that these include cells expressing surface CD3 (in association with either TCR alpha beta or TCR gamma delta) and a subset of CD4-CD8-CD3-. These findings suggest that sequential passage of thymocytes in organ culture may be a useful alternative strategy for characterising cells with high proliferative potential, resident in the thymus and also for probing their lineage relationships.
Using the approach of titrating precursor cells into mouse thymus organ cultures and serial passage, we have sought to compare the proliferative capacities of cells derived from adult and embryonic thymus and related haemopoietic tissues. We find that cells derived from the liver and thymus of day 14 embryos are capable of extensive proliferation in such cultures (surviving for at least 12 weeks) whereas cells derived from adult sources (blood and thymus) display a much more restricted lifespan and potential for division. Analysis of sequentially passaged thymic lobes shows that cells lacking CD4 and CD8 (CD4- and CD8-) and a subset of single CD8 positives are selectively expanded in these cultures. A preliminary study of the CD4-CD8- populations in these lobes suggest that these include cells expressing surface CD3 (in association with either TCR alpha beta or TCR gamma delta) and a subset of CD4-CD8-CD3-. These findings suggest that sequential passage of thymocytes in organ culture may be a useful alternative strategy for characterising cells with high proliferative potential, resident in the thymus and also for probing their lineage relationships.