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Fetal thymic pre-T cells neither demonstrate nor develop natural killer cell activity
Cellular Immunology
|March 1, 1984
Summary
Fetal thymus cells do not generate functional natural killer (NK) cells in aged mice. Adult spleen cells, however, do restore NK activity, indicating NK cells are not of pre-T cell origin.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- The origin and development of natural killer (NK) cells are not fully understood.
- A controversial hypothesis suggests NK cells may develop from pre-T lineage cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether fetal thymocytes, which are rich in pre-T cells, can differentiate into functional NK cells.
- To determine if the fetal thymus contains NK cell precursors.
Main Methods:
- Adoptive transfer of fetal thymocytes into aged mice with low NK activity.
- Measurement of splenic NK cell activity using a chromium-release assay.
- In vivo stimulation with poly(I:C) to assess NK cell responsiveness.
- Comparison with adoptive transfer of adult splenocytes.
Main Results:
- Fetal thymocyte transfer did not restore NK activity in aged mice.
- Poly(I:C) treatment increased NK activity in both thymocyte-injected and control mice.
- Transfer of adult splenocytes significantly increased NK activity.
Conclusions:
- The fetal thymus does not appear to contain functional NK cells or NK precursors that mature within 3 days.
- Functional NK cells are present in the adult spleen.
- These findings challenge the hypothesis that NK cells originate from the pre-T lineage.