Raedler A, Raedler E, Scholz K U, Arndt R, Thiele H G
Thymus. 1983 Sep;5(5-6):311-26.
The expression of MHC products, differentiation antigens and lectin receptors has been investigated in the various cell types populating different compartments of the thymus. The ultrastructural classification of suspended thymic epithelial cells was facilitated by using a technique that preserves cortical nursing cells or medullary epithelial cell clusters. A subset of peanut lectin positive lymphocytes could be distinguished by their ability to bind soybean lectin also. This subset corresponds to the large proliferating lymphocytes that populate the area between the thymic capsule and the cortex. Ia and H-2 D/K antigens could be detected on nearly all epithelial and lymphoid cells. Expression of H-2 antigens, however, is more pronounced on medullary epithelial cells. T-cell differentiation antigens such as Thy-1 and Lyt-1 could be demonstrated not only on lymphocytes, but, interestingly enough, on cortical epithelial cells as well. These latter cells, in addition, exhibit a cell membrane-bound lectin with a specificity for D-galactose which might well be the structure responsible for binding the galactosyl residues of the peanut lectin receptor of thymic lymphocytes. Binding sites for a large set of lectins could be demonstrated on both, thymic lymphocytes and epithelium. The intrathymic differentiation pathway of T-lineage cells is discussed with regard to those lymphocytic and epithelial cell surface structures considered to enable cellular interaction.
对胸腺不同区域的各种细胞类型中MHC产物、分化抗原和凝集素受体的表达进行了研究。通过使用一种能保存皮质滋养细胞或髓质上皮细胞簇的技术，有助于对悬浮的胸腺上皮细胞进行超微结构分类。花生凝集素阳性淋巴细胞的一个亚群也可通过其结合大豆凝集素的能力加以区分。该亚群对应于位于胸腺被膜和皮质之间区域的大量增殖淋巴细胞。几乎所有上皮细胞和淋巴细胞上均可检测到Ia和H-2 D/K抗原。然而，H-2抗原在髓质上皮细胞上的表达更为明显。T细胞分化抗原，如Thy-1和Lyt-1，不仅可在淋巴细胞上显示，而且有趣的是，在皮质上皮细胞上也可显示。此外，这些后者的细胞表现出一种对D-半乳糖具有特异性的细胞膜结合凝集素，这很可能是负责结合胸腺淋巴细胞花生凝集素受体半乳糖基残基的结构。在胸腺淋巴细胞和上皮细胞上均可显示出大量凝集素的结合位点。关于那些被认为能够实现细胞间相互作用的淋巴细胞和上皮细胞表面结构，讨论了T系细胞在胸腺内的分化途径。
