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Extrathymic T cell differentiation in vitro from human CD34 + stem cells
Author(s) -
Pawelec Graham,
Muller Robert,
Rehbein Arnika,
Hähnel Karin,
Ziegler Benedikt L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.64.6.733
Subject(s) - biology , stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cd34 , in vitro , cellular differentiation , immunology , genetics , gene
Although it is well established that T cells are derived from CD34 + stem cells in vivo , and that T cells can develop in the absence of a functioning thymus, it has not proven possible thus far to generate human T cells in vitro from CD34 + cells in the absence of any thymic influence. We now present a limiting dilution cloning culture system that supports the differentiation of highly purified human CD34 + cells to CD3 + T cells in vitro in the complete absence of any thymic components. The culture system features the use of a serum‐free medium supplemented with a cocktail of cytokines including flt‐3 ligand, interleukin‐3 (IL‐3), stem cell factor (SCF), and IL‐2. CD4 + T cell clones capable of mitogen‐stimulated proliferation and response to IL‐2, and expressing a varied TCR‐Vβ repertoire were obtained under these conditions. This culture system therefore supports human T lymphopoiesis in the absence of any thymic influence and may prove useful for the evaluation of extrathymic T cell differentiation in vitro. J. Leukoc. Biol. 64: 733–739; 1998.