ISSN:
1573-6865
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Hassall's corpuscles represent a subset of medullary thymic epithelial cells whose origin and function within the thymus still remain largely unknown. The present study shows that Hassall's corpuscles can be defined by their intracellular content in specific keratin subunits. Two monoclonal anti-keratin antibodies were used: KL1, directed to high molecular weight keratins, and KL4, specific for high and medium molecular weight polypeptides.In vivo, KL1 exclusively binds to Hassall's corpuscles of five mammalian species including mouse, rat, guinea-pig, rabbit and pig. Thus KL1 appears as an exclusive marker of Hassall's corpuscles in a large number of mammals.In vitro, thymic epithelial cells gave rise in certain species to Hassall's corpuscles. In contrast to itsin vivo reactivity, KL1 never labelled Hassall's corpuscles developedin vitro. These data strongly support the following conclusions: (1) Hassall's corpuscles derive from medullary epithelial cells; (2) they represent advanced stages of thymic epithelial maturation; (3) thymic epithelial cell differentiation is impairedin vitro. Furthermore, this study provides additional evidence that thymic epithelium heterogeneity reflects different stages in epithelial maturation.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01798499
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