The Human Thymic Microenvironment during Organ Culture

Cultured human thymic tissue has been transplanted into many patients with T cell dysfunction; however, little is known about the effect ofin vitroculture on thymic tissue. Human postnatal thymic organ cultures were establishedin vitroto study the growth potential of the thymic epithelium and the ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical immunology and immunopathology 1997-01, Vol.82 (1), p.26-36
Main Authors: Markert, M.Louise, Watson, T.J., Kaplan, Irene, Hale, Laura P., Haynes, Barton F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Antigens - metabolism
Antigens, CD7 - immunology
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Survival
Cells, Cultured
Cryopreservation
DiGeorge Syndrome - therapy
Epithelial Cells
Epithelium - growth & development
Humans
Immunodeficiencies
Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies
Immunopathology
Keratins - immunology
Leukocyte Common Antigens - immunology
Medical sciences
Organ Culture Techniques
T-Lymphocytes - transplantation
Thymus Gland - anatomy & histology
Thymus Gland - cytology
Thymus Gland - immunology
Time Factors
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Summary:Cultured human thymic tissue has been transplanted into many patients with T cell dysfunction; however, little is known about the effect ofin vitroculture on thymic tissue. Human postnatal thymic organ cultures were establishedin vitroto study the growth potential of the thymic epithelium and the expression of intracellular and surface antigens with time in culture. Marked depletion of bone marrow-derived cells was observed within 3 weeks of initiation of organ cultures although some viable CD3+ cells could still be detected. Thymic epithelial cells inin vitroexplants continued to express MHC class I and class II antigens as well as cytokeratins. Thymic epithelial cells within cultured thymic organ slices maintained their postnatal growth potential, in that cytokeratin-positive epithelial monolayers could be establishedin vitrofrom these thymic slices up to 12 weeks after initiation of organ culture. Thus, thymic explants remained viable in culture and could potentially be used to reconstitute immunity in T cell deficient patients.
ISSN:0090-1229
1090-2341
DOI:10.1006/clin.1996.4266