| First Author | Ayres-Martins S | Year | 2004 |
| Journal | Cell Immunol | Volume | 229 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 21-30 |
| PubMed ID | 15331325 | Mgi Jnum | J:92311 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3052378 | Doi | 10.1016/j.cellimm.2004.06.002 |
| Citation | Ayres-Martins S, et al. (2004) Phagocytic cells of the thymic reticulum interact with thymocytes via extracellular matrix ligands and receptors. Cell Immunol 229(1):21-30 |
| abstractText | We previously showed that, in the context of thymic epithelial cells, thymocyte migration is partially controlled by extracellular matrix (ECM)-mediated interactions. Herein we evaluated whether these interactions could be involved in cell migration related events in the context of non-epithelial cells of the thymic microenvironment, the phagocytic cells of the thymic reticulum (PTR). We first showed, by immunocytochemistry, cytofluorometry, and RT-PCR, that PTR produce ECM components, including fibronectin and laminin, and express the corresponding integrin-type receptors, VLA-4, VLA-5, and VLA-6. Thymocytes adhere onto PTR monolayers, with immature CD4(+)CD8(+) cells being predominant. Importantly, such an adhesion is partially mediated by ECM ligands and receptors, since it was impaired by anti-ECM or anti-ECM receptor antibodies. Conjointly, our data reveal that the ECM-dependence for thymocyte adhesion onto the thymic microenvironment is not restricted to the epithelial cells, being also seen when they encounter non-epithelial phagocytic cells. |
