Thymoma epithelial cells secrete thymic hormone but do not express class II antigens of the major histocompatibility complex.

17 thymomas were studied by indirect immunofluorescence for the presence of thymic hormones and antigens of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The thymoma epithelial cells (specifically identified by their keratin content) contained thymic hormones (thymulin and thymosin alpha 1), a finding corroborated by the observation of elevated thymulin serum levels. In contrast with normal or hyperplastic thymuses, thymoma epithelial cells did not express HLA-DR and HLA-DC antigens as assessed by immunofluorescence as well as immunoblot analyses. Conversely, MHC class I antigens (HLA-ABC) were normally expressed. Thus, we conclude that thymoma epithelial cells are endocrinologically active but are defective for the expression of some MHC products (class II molecules) known to play an essential role in intrathymic T cell differentiation.