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Extracellular matrix components of the mouse thymus microenvironment. IV. Modulation of thymic nurse cells by extracellular matrix ligands and receptors
Author(s) -
VillaVerde DÉA Maria Serra,
Machado Jussara,
VannierSantos Marcos Andre,
Chammas Roger,
Brentani Ricardo Renzo,
Savino Wilson
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
european journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1521-4141
pISSN - 0014-2980
DOI - 10.1002/eji.1830240326
Subject(s) - extracellular matrix , biology , extracellular , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , matrix (chemical analysis) , biochemistry , chemistry , chromatography
Abstract Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins can influence cell migration and differentiation in a variety of cell systems. Within the thymus, these molecules are heterogeneously distributed, and their physiological role is poorly understood. This prompted us to carry out in vitro studies using the thymic nurse cell (TNC) model. We observed that fibronectin and laminin accelerate spontaneous in vitro release of thymocytes from TNC, whereas anti‐ECM antibodies exhibited a blocking effect. Similar results were obtained with anti‐ECM receptor reagents. Moreover, these antibodies abrogated in vitro reconstitution of TNC complexes and thymocyte adhesion to TNC‐derived epithelial cultures. Our results indicate that lymphocyte traffic in TNC (comprising both entrance into and exit from the epithelial structure) is affected by interactions involving extracellular matrix ligands and receptors. In this respect, the dynamic analysis of thymic nurse cell complexes should be regarded as a relevant in vitro tool for functional studies of distinct adhesion molecules in intrathymic lymphocyte traffic.