Development and developmental potential of beta5t-expressing thymic epithelial cells

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25860361
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Immunology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: OHIGASHI Izumi 徳島大学, 疾患プロテオゲノム研究センター, 特任助教 (00596588)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 胸腺 / 獲得免疫 / 胸腺上皮細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) are derived from cortico-medullary common thymic epithelial progenitors (pTECs) that transiently transcribe cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs)-specific molecule β5t. By in vivo fate-mapping analysis of cells that transcribe β5t during a given period in mice, we examined how β5t+ pTECs contribute the maintenance and regeneration of adult mTECs. In adult mice, most mTECs were derived from cells that transcribed β5t during embryogenesis and neonatal period up to one week of age. The contribution of adult β5t+ pTECs was minor even during injury-triggered thymic regeneration. Our results further demonstrate that adult mTEC-restricted stem cells were also derived from perinatal β5t+ progenitors. These results indicate that the adult thymic medullary epithelium is maintained and regenerated by mTEC-lineage cells that pass beyond the bipotent stage during early ontogeny.

Free Research Field

免疫学