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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
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Preparation of Single-Cell Suspension of Mouse Thymic Epithelial Cells and Staining of Intracellular Molecules for Flow Cytometric Analysis
Published on: July 26, 2024
EVA regulates thymic stromal organisation and early thymocyte development
Lucia DeMonte1, Simona Porcellini, Elisiana Tafi
1San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|March 17, 2007
Summary
Epithelial V-like antigen (EVA) plays a role in thymus development and structure. Overexpression of EVA in mice led to larger thymus size and increased cell numbers without affecting T cell populations.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Epithelial V-like antigen (EVA) is an immunoglobulin-like adhesion molecule.
- EVA expression is developmentally regulated during thymocyte development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of EVA in thymus organogenesis and T cell development.
- To analyze the effects of EVA overexpression on thymus structure and lymphocyte populations.
Main Methods:
- Screening for developmentally regulated molecules in thymocyte development.
- Analyzing EVA expression patterns in fetal and postnatal thymus.
- Generating transgenic mice with thymus-specific EVA overexpression.
Main Results:
- EVA is expressed in fetal thymic epithelia and T cell precursors, downregulated by embryonic day 16.5.
- Postnatal EVA expression is restricted to thymic epithelial cells in cortical and medullary regions.
- Transgenic EVA overexpression increased thymus size and cell number, but did not alter T cell repertoire or subsets.
Conclusions:
- EVA is involved in the structural organization of the thymus.
- EVA influences early lymphocyte development and thymus organogenesis.
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