Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 12, 2025

Mouse Naïve CD4+ T Cell Isolation and In vitro Differentiation into T Cell Subsets
Published on: April 16, 2015
Thymic Epithelial Cell-Derived IL-15 and IL-15 Receptor α Chain Foster Local Environment for Type 1 Innate Like T
Huishan Tao1, Lei Li1, Nan-Shih Liao2
1Department of Pediatrics-Allergy and Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) produce IL-15, crucial for innate-like T cell development in the thymus. This suggests TECs intrinsically regulate thymic inflammation by controlling these T cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) express tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) for T cell tolerance.
- The role of TEC-derived cytokines in shaping the thymic environment is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether TECs utilize cytokine functions to regulate T cell development.
- To explore the role of IL-15 and its receptor in TEC-mediated T cell development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of publicly available transcriptomic databases (human and mouse).
- Investigated the expression of cytokines and cytokine receptors in TECs.
- Studied the effects of IL-15 and IL-15Rα ablation in TECs on T cell development.
Main Results:
- TECs express transcripts for various cytokines, including IL-15, IL-15Rα, IL-13, and IL-23a.
- Ablation of IL-15 or IL-15Rα in TECs selectively impaired the development of type 1 innate-like T cells (iNKT1 and γδT1).
- TECs trans-present IL-15, supporting type 1 innate-like T cell development.
Conclusions:
- TECs are a significant source of IL-15, essential for type 1 innate-like T cell development.
- TECs intrinsically control thymic inflammatory innate-like T cells, influencing the thymic microenvironment.
More Related Videos
09:41Preparation of Single-Cell Suspension of Mouse Thymic Epithelial Cells and Staining of Intracellular Molecules for Flow Cytometric AnalysisMechanisms
Published on: July 26, 2024
10:44A Three-dimensional Thymic Culture System to Generate Murine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Tumor Antigen-specific Thymic Emigrants
Published on: August 9, 2019
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
Primary Lymphoid Organs
The red bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue nestled in the interior of long bones such as the humerus and femur. It is the site...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...