High CD30 ligand expression by epithelial cells and Hassal's corpuscles in the medulla of human thymus

CD30 is a member of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily that is expressed by activated T cells in the presence of interleukin-4 (IL-4). Although CD30 can mediate a variety of signals, CD30-deficient mice have impaired negative selection of T cells, suggesting that at least in the context of murine thymus, CD30 is a cell death-mediating molecule. The ligand for CD30 (CD30L) is a membrane-associated glycoprotein related to TNF, which is known to be expressed mainly by activated T cells and other leukocytes. However, the nature of CD30L-expressing cells involved in the interaction with CD30+ thymocytes is unclear. We report here that in postnatal human thymus the great majority of CD30+ cells are double positive (CD4+CD8+), activated, IL-4 receptor-expressing T cells which selectively localize in the medullary areas. Moreover, many medullary epithelial cells and Hassal's corpuscles in the same thymus specimens showed unusually high expression of CD30L in comparison with other lymphoid or nonlymphoid tissues. These findings provide additional information on the nature and localization of CD30+ thymocytes and show that epithelial cells are the major holder of CD30L in the thymic medulla.