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Thymosin β 4 is a shared antigen between lymphoid cells and oligodendrocytes of normal human brain
Author(s) -
Dalakas Marinos C.,
Trapp Bruce D.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410190407
Subject(s) - thymosin , antigen , lymphatic system , biology , antigen presentation , immunology , myelin , immune system , antigen presenting cell , central nervous system , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , t cell , neuroscience , medicine
Abstract In the normal human brain, immunoreactive thymosin β 4 , a well‐characterized thymic extract, was demonstrated specifically in the cell bodies and processes of a subset of interfascicular and satellite oligodendrocytes with their stained processes terminating around myelin sheaths. Antisera directed against two other thymic polypeptides, thymosin α 1 and α 7 , did not react. In lymphoid tissues, thymosin β 4 was present in macrophages, Langerhans' cells of the skin, and the interdigitating cells of the thymus. Thus, a subset of oligodendrocytes shares a common antigen of thymic origin with the reticular–dendritic and phagocytic lymphoid cells—all Ia + immunocompetent cells that participate in the presentation of antigens to T cells. The subset of thymosin β 4 ‐positive oligodendrocytes is antigenically distinct and may play a role in the immune surveillance of the central nervous system or the demyelinating processes induced by antigen‐presenting activated macrophages.