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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
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Isolation of Myeloid Dendritic Cells and Epithelial Cells from Human Thymus
Published on: September 19, 2013
An immuno-electron-microscopic study of human thymic B cells
1Institute of Pathology, University of Erlangen, Germany.
Cell and Tissue Research
|June 1, 1996
Summary
Normal human thymic B cells, identified by CD20, possess unique "asteroid" shapes with cytoplasmic processes. These cells interact closely with thymocytes and may collaborate with interdigitating reticulum cells (IDC) in T cell maturation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Histology
Background:
- Thymic B cells are present in the human thymic medulla and are implicated in T cell maturation.
- Previous characterization of thymic B cells was limited to light microscopy, lacking ultrastructural detail.
- The in vivo ultrastructure of thymic B cells remained largely undescribed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ultrastructural morphology of human thymic B cells in vivo.
- To characterize the cellular interactions of thymic B cells within the thymic medulla.
Main Methods:
- Immunolabeling of six normal infantile thymi using the pan-B cell marker CD20.
- Pre-embedding technique followed by electron microscopic examination.
- Morphological assessment and analysis of cellular contacts.
Main Results:
- CD20-positive thymic B cells exhibited an "asteroid" shape with prominent, long cytoplasmic processes.
- These cells were consistently found in close proximity to thymocytes.
- Their cytoplasmic processes appeared to intermingle with those of cells presumed to be interdigitating reticulum cells (IDC).
Conclusions:
- Human thymic B cells possess a distinct ultrastructure with extensive cytoplasmic projections.
- Thymic B cells are strategically positioned to interact with thymocytes and potentially IDC.
- These findings suggest a collaborative role for thymic B cells and IDC in regulating T cell maturation within the thymus.
