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Normal T Cell Development in the Absence of Thymic Insulin Expression
Author(s) -
CARLSÉN MARIA,
CILIO CORRADO M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1375.032
Subject(s) - thymocyte , insulin , endocrinology , medicine , biology , flow cytometry , pathogenesis , islet , fetus , t cell , immunology , immune system , pregnancy , genetics
Ectopic expression of insulin in thymus has been suggested to be involved in tolerance induction against pancreatic β cells and in type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis. However, it is not known whether thymic insulin expression would also influence thymocyte maturation and differentiation. To address these questions, we have used mice that are insulin deficient. Early fetal thymi were cultured in fetal thymic organ cultures (FTOCs) and the development of thymocytes was studied by flow cytometry. The results revealed no significant difference in thymocyte maturation in the absence of thymic insulin. Taken together, these data do not support a role for thymic insulin in thymocyte differentiation and growth.