Identification of early stages of T lymphocyte development in the thymus cortex and medulla.

摘要: Thymocyte subpopulations with a phenotype suggesting they are early stages of T cell development in the adult mouse thymus were characterized and isolated by using multiparameter flow cytometry sorting, conjunction selective killing antibody complement (C). The intrathymic localization these was assessed dipping fluorescent dyes to selectively label outer-cortical cells. main phenotypic markers used sensitivity C-mediated lysis monoclonal B2A2 (which spares most prothymocytes but kills thymocytes), expression lineage specific Ly-2 L3T4, levels common antigens Ly-1 Thy-1. A preliminary selection for cells lacking or resistant C, produced population large cells, only 5% all thymocytes distinct from typical cortical blast This putative itself heterogeneous, consisting eight separable localization. One group two (B2A2-, Ly-1++, Thy-1+ either Ly-2+ L3T4- Ly-2- L3T4+) appeared be medullary location, their suggested could have been members lineages. Another Thy-1-, Ly-2-, B2A2-, Thy-1+, L3T4-) did not show clear pattern may represented an earlier stage transition location. quite different three (B2A2++, Ly-1-, L3T4-; B2A2++, Ly-1+, Thy-1++, concentrated outer cortex seemed represent series pathway, before Finally, very minor subset (0.2% markers, cortex; this fifth had expected earliest precursor results suggest that separate developmental streams traced back, via subpopulations, cortex.