| First Author | van Ewijk W | Year | 2000 |
| Journal | Development | Volume | 127 |
| Issue | 8 | Pages | 1583-91 |
| PubMed ID | 10725235 | Mgi Jnum | J:61090 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1354436 | Doi | 10.1242/dev.127.8.1583 |
| Citation | van Ewijk W, et al. (2000) Stepwise development of thymic microenvironments in vivo is regulated by thymocyte subsets. Development 127(8):1583-91 |
| abstractText | T-cell development is under the tight control of thymic microenvironments. Conversely, the integrity of thymic microenvironments depends on the physical presence of developing thymocytes, a phenomenon designated as 'thymic crosstalk'. We now show, using three types of immunodeficient mice, i.e. CD3(epsilon) transgenic mice, RAG(null) mice and RAG(null)-bone-marrow-transplanted CD3(epsilon) transgenic mice, that the control point in lymphoid development where triple negative (CD3(-),CD4(-),CD8(-)) thymocytes progress from CD44(+)CD25(-) towards CD44(-)CD25(+), influences the development of epithelial cells, critically inducing the extra, third dimension in the organization of the epithelial cells in the cortex. This tertiary configuration of the thymic epithelium is a typical feature for the thymus, enabling lymphostromal interaction during T-cell development. Crosstalk signals at this control point also induce the formation of thymic nurse cells. Moreover, our data indicate that establishment of a thymic cortex is a prerequisite for the development of the thymic medulla. Thus, differentiating thymocytes regulate the morphogenesis of thymic microenvironments in a stepwise fashion. |
