Document details
Thymic epithelial cells: the multi-tasking framework of the T cell "cradle"(Article)
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- aCytokines and Lymphoid Development Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- bInstitut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U668, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- cInstitute for Immunology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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Abstract
The thymus provides the anatomical "cradle" that fosters developing thymocytes. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are specialized cellular components that may be viewed as a multifunctional "frame" to nurture distinct stages of thymopoiesis. A symbiotic relationship between TECs and thymocytes exists because reciprocal interactions are required to achieve complete maturation of both cell types. Here, we propose that crucial instructive signals delivered by developing thymocytes negatively regulate functional attributes of immature TECs (including the expression of Delta-like 4 (DLL4) and interleukin-7 (IL-7)) that are required during early stages of thymopoiesis, while promoting the diversification of more mature TEC subsets. Thus, the division of labour among TECs may be coordinated directly by local cellular feedback mechanisms operating within distinct thymic niches. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Indexed keywords
| EMTREE drug terms: | autoimmune regulator proteinchemokinecytokinedelta like 4 proteininterleukin 7ligandNotch receptortranscription factortranscription factor forkhead box N1unclassified drug |
|---|---|
| EMTREE medical terms: | articleCD4+ T lymphocyteCD8+ T lymphocytecell expansioncell functioncell lineagecell maturationcell selectioncell subpopulationcell survivalepithelium cellfeedback systemhomeostasishumanlymphocyte differentiationmolecular interactionorganogenesisprotein expressionsignal transductionT lymphocytethymocytethymus |
| MeSH: | AnimalsEpithelial CellsFeedback, PhysiologicalHumansLymphopoiesisMiceT-LymphocytesThymus Gland |
Funding details
| Funding sponsor | Funding number | Acronym |
|---|---|---|
| Ligue Contre le Cancer | ||
| Fondation pour les Etudes et Recherches sur le Développement International | ||
| Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft See opportunities | KFO142-P,SFB497-B5 | |
| Institut Pasteur | ||
| Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia See opportunities | ||
| Fuel Cell Technologies Program | FCT | |
| Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale |
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1
N.L.A., N.D.H., J.P.D. are supported by grants from the Institut Pasteur, INSERM, Ligue National Contre le Cancer (Equipe Labélisee), the Fondation pour le Recherche Médicale, France and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal. H.R.R. is supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB497-B5 and KFO142-P). We thank Drs António Bandeira and António A. Freitas for critical reading of the manuscript. We apologize for not referring to all of the primary literature owing to space limitations.
- ISSN: 14714906
- CODEN: TIRMA
- Source Type: Journal
- Original language: English
- DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2009.07.010
- PubMed ID: 19781995
- Document Type: Article
Alves, N.L.; Cytokines and Lymphoid Development Unit, Institut Pasteur, France
© Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
© MEDLINE® is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.
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