Abstract
Are the dendritic cells (DC) found in the thymus similar in origin and function to those in other lymphoid tissues? Thymic DC are generally similar in morphological appearance to DC elsewhere, and share many cell surface markers. Thymic DC are shortlived cells which are, like DC elsewhere, of bone marrow origin1,2. However, it had not been clear whether they are continuously generated within the thymus itself, or arrive preformed via the bloodstream. Our work delineates a separate stream of DC generated within the thymus. Thymic DC form multicellular complexes with developing,T cells, giving rise to the rosette structures found in collagenase digests of thymic tissue3,4. The functional result of this DC-thymocyte interaction is believed to be the destruction of any self-reactive cells (negative selection)5. This outcome is different from that of the DC-T lymphocyte interactions in lymph nodes, where any T cells reactive with presented foreign antigens are stimulated to proliferate and differentiate6. Investigation of the basis of this difference has pointed to the state of maturation of the interacting T-lineage cells, rather than to any differences in the antigen-presenting DC7. Without questioning that the maturation state of the interactive T cells is an important factor, our work has raised the additional possibility that certain DC may be specialized for delivering negative signals to T cells.
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Shortman, K. et al. (1995). Thymic Dendritic Cells: Surface Phenotype, Developmental Origin and Function. In: Banchereau, J., Schmitt, D. (eds) Dendritic Cells in Fundamental and Clinical Immunology. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 378. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1971-3_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1971-3_5
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