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IL-2-dependent proliferation of thymic accessory cells
B Rocha1, A Lehuen, M Papiernik
1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U 25, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UA 122 Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|February 15, 1988
Summary
Thymic reticulum phagocytic cells possess receptors for interleukin-2 (IL-2) and uniquely proliferate in response to recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2). This proliferation is specific and not due to contaminants.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Phagocytic cells in the thymic reticulum are Ia-positive accessory cells.
- These cells are continuously produced in long-term thymic stroma cultures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the properties of thymic reticulum phagocytic cells regarding interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors.
- To determine if these cells proliferate in response to IL-2.
Main Methods:
- Long-term thymic stroma cultures were used to generate phagocytic cells.
- Cells were analyzed for interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression and proliferation in response to recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2).
- Inhibition studies using an anti-IL-2R monoclonal antibody (mAb) were performed.
Main Results:
- Phagocytic cells of the thymic reticulum express receptors for IL-2 (IL-2R).
- These cells share IL-2R expression with splenic accessory cells generated in vitro.
- Thymic reticulum phagocytic cells uniquely proliferate in the presence of rIL-2.
- This proliferation was not enhanced by Concanavalin A (Con-A) and was specifically inhibited by an anti-IL-2R mAb, ruling out lymphoid contamination.
Conclusions:
- Thymic reticulum phagocytic cells possess functional IL-2 receptors.
- These cells exhibit a unique proliferative capacity in response to rIL-2, independent of T-cell activation markers.
- This suggests a distinct role for these accessory cells in thymic immune regulation.