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Characterization of adiponectin‐expressing cells in thymus
Author(s) -
Zhang Yiwei,
Cao Handi,
Xu Aimin,
Wang Yu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2019.33.1_supplement.812.4
Subject(s) - adiponectin , adipokine , biology , cd3 , flow cytometry , t cell , medicine , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , immunology , cd8 , insulin , insulin resistance
Objective Adiponectin, a protein considered as the most abundant adipokine, was found to be expressed in the thymus of wild type mice. The present study characterized the identity and function of adiponectin‐expressing cells in thymus. Methods Thymus was collected from mice with (WT) or without (AKO) adiponectin for isolation and enrichment of thymic nurse cell complexes (TNCs). Different populations of lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Protein expressions were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining and/or Western blotting. Results Adiponectin‐expressing cells were present in TNCs, the specific epithelial cell complexes which engulf thymocytes and provide microenvironment for T lymphocyte development. Compared with age‐matched WT mice, the number and size of TNCs in thymus of AKO mice were significantly reduced. The percentage composition of CD3+ double positive (DP) lymphocytes was significantly decreased, whereas the total amount of double negative (DN) thymocytes significantly increased in TNCs of AKO mice. Adiponectin‐expressing cells were derived from a subpopulation of early T progenitors, which facilitated the formation and function of TNCs. Treatment with adiponectin in vivo or ex vivo could promote the formation and functions of TNCs. Conclusions Adiponectin‐expressing cells play important roles in the positive and negative selection process of TNCs, thus regulating T‐cell maturation and development in thymus. The results have important implications on the anti‐inflammatory, anti‐diabetic and anti‐tumorigenic properties of adiponectin. Support or Funding Information This work was supported in part by grants from Seeding Funds for basic research of the University of Hong Kong, Research Council Grants (17153016) and Hong Kong Health and Medical Research Fund (04151796), Collaborative Research Fund of Hong Kong (C7055‐14G) and the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program 2015CB553603). This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .