Human Thymic Epithelial Cells in Serum-Free Culture: Nature and
Effects on Thymocyte Cell Lines |
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| Authors: | Carsten Ropke Jette Elbroend |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Medical Anatomy A, University of Copenhagen, The Panum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.;2. Laboratory for Cellular Immunology, Department of Medical Anatomy, University of Copenhagen, The Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3, Copenhagen N, DK-2200, Denmark, |
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| Abstract: | Thymic epithelial cells (TEC) have been cultured for several months and/or for 4 to 5transfers in a growth factor-defined serum-free medium without concurrent growth ofother cell types. The use of monoclonal antibodies and αMAM-6 indicated that themajority of TEC were of medullary origin. The vast majority of cells were positive forLFA-3 and class I, and class II expression, was low or absent. Supernatants from thecultures were shown to contain IL-1ß, IL-6, and M-CSF. Coculture of clonedsubpopulations of thymocytes and TEC showed effects of TEC and of secreted ILs onthymocyte proliferation. High percentages of TEC were able to bind DN, DP, or SPthymocyte populations, partly via CD2-LFA-3 adhesion. Thus, it is possible to cultureTEC without unknown serum factors and with maintenance of functional activities. |
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| Keywords: | Serum-free culture human thymus epithelium human thymocytes thymocyte-epithelium interaction |
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