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Preparation and Applications of Organotypic Thymic Slice Cultures
Published on: August 6, 2016
Homeostatic signals do not drive post-thymic T cell maturation
Evan G Houston1, Tamar E Boursalian, Pamela J Fink
1Department of Immunology, University of Washington, WA 98195, United States.
Cellular Immunology
|March 9, 2012
Summary
Newly emerged T cells, known as recent thymic emigrants, mature in lymphoid organs independently of common immune signals. This post-thymic T cell maturation process is not MHC-dependent and involves dendritic cells, but not IL-7 or CD80/86 pathways.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- T cell biology
Background:
- Recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) are the youngest T cells in the periphery.
- RTEs undergo a 3-week maturation period to become mature, naïve T cells.
- Previous research suggested MHC-independent maturation requiring thymic exit and secondary lymphoid organ access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific molecular and cellular requirements for post-thymic T cell maturation.
- To determine the role of homeostatic, costimulatory, and homing pathways in RTE maturation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of T cell maturation in the absence of specific signaling pathways (IL-7, CD80/86).
- Assessment of the impact of chemokine receptor CCR7 and its ligands (CCL19, CCL21) on maturation.
- Evaluation of the role of dendritic cells in the maturation process.
Main Results:
- Post-thymic T cell maturation is independent of IL-7 and CD80/86 signaling.
- Efficient homing to secondary lymphoid organs via CCR7/CCL19,21 is not essential for maturation.
- An intact dendritic cell compartment is necessary to modulate RTE maturation.
Conclusions:
- Post-thymic T cell maturation is distinct from T cell development and homeostasis.
- Maturation does not rely on T cell receptor interrogation or responsiveness to homeostatic/costimulatory signals.
- The process is influenced by dendritic cells, suggesting a novel, unrecognized mechanism is involved.
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