Summary
Autopsy specimens of normal human thymus, from cases of accidental involution, follicular hyperplasia, thymomas and a teratoma were investigated by immunocytochemistry using specific immune sera to small and large keratins. Keratin antisera represent a “marker” of both Hassall's corpuscles (HC) and so-called epithelial reticular cells. There were no apparent differences in keratin polypeptides distribution between cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells. In accidental involution, the epithelial framework became prominent: epithelial cortical borders and epithelial perivascular sheaths appeared often to be discontinous structures. The central and occasionally cystic spaces of HC did not react with keratin antisera. In follicular hyperplasia, almost solid epithelial aggregates were seen which were located around germinal centers. In thymic tumours, neoplastic epithelial cells displayed a marked immunorectivity with keratin antisera. Immune sera against keratin filaments represent an interesting tool in thymus research and in the diagnostic pathology of thymic tumours.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bargmann W (1967) Histologie und mikroskopische Anatomie des Menschen. 6. Auflage. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, p 318–327
Bearman RM, Bensch KG, Levine GD (1975) The normal human thymic vasculature: an ultrastructural study. Anat Rec 183:485–498
Blau JN (1973) Hassall's corpuscles — A site of thymocyte death. Br J exp Path 54:634–637
Burnet FM, Holmes MC (1964) Thymic changes in the mouse strain NZB in relation to the auto-immune state. J Path Bact 88:229–241
Caselitz J, Löning T, Staquet MJ, Seifert G, Thivolet J (1981) Immunocytochemical demonstration of filamentous structures in the parotid gland. Occurrence of keratin and actin in normal and tumoral parotid gland with special respect to the myoepithelial cells. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol (in press).
Clark SL (1966) Cytological evidence of secretion in the thymus. The thymus: experimental and clinical studies. Ciba Foundation Symposium. I and A Churchill, Ltd London, p 3
Clark SL (1968) Incorporation of sulfate by the mouse thymus: its relation to secretion by medullary epithelial cells and to thymic lymphopoiesis. J Lxp Med 128:927–957
Drenckhahn D, von Gaudecker B, Müller-Hermelink HK, Unsicker K, Gröschel-Stewart U (1979) Myosin and actin containing cells in the human postnatal thymus. Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical findings in normal thymus and in myasthenia gravis. Virchows Arch B Cell Path 32:33–45
Franke WW, Weber K, Osborn M, Schmid E, Freudenstein C (1978) Antibody to prekeratin: decoration of tonofilament-like arrays in various cells of epithelial character. Exp Cell Res 116:429–445
Fuchs E, Green H (1980) Changes in keratin gene expression during terminal differentiation of the keratinocyte. Cell 19:1033–1042
Hammar IA (1926) Der Menschenthymus in Gesundheit und Krankheit. Z Mikrosk Anat Forsch 6:1–560
Henry K (1966) Mucin secretion and striated muscle in the human thymus. Lancet 22:183–185
Hwang WS, Ho TY, Luk SC, Simon GT (1974) Ultrastructure of the rat thymus. A transmission, scanning electron microscope and morphometric study. Lab Invest 31:473–487
Kater L, van Gorp HM (1969) Morphological aspects of Hassall's corpuscles. Path Europ 4:361–369
Kohnen P, Weiss L (1964) An electron microscopic study of thymic corpuscules in the guinea pig and the mouse. Anat Rec 148:29–57
Kostowiecki M (1967) Development of the so-called double-walled blood vessels of the thymus. Z Mikr Anat Forsch 77:401–431
Löning T, Burkhardt A, Seifert G, Gebbers JO (1977) Zur Typisierung der Immunglobuline in oralen Leukoplakien und Karzinomen. Dtsch Z Mund-Kiefer-Gesichts-Chir 1:168–177
Löning T, Staquet MJ, Thivolet J, Seifert G (1980) Keratin polypeptides distribution in normal and diseased human epidermis and oral mucosa. Immunohistochemical study on unaltered epithelium and inflammatory, premalignant and malignant lesions. Virchows Arch A Path Anat and Histol 388:273–288
Löning T, Viac J, Caselitz J, Schmitt D, Otto HF, Thivolet J (1980) Immunocytochemical and ultrastructural investigation of keratin and actin filaments in thymus tumours, (in prep.)
Mandel T (1968) The development and structure of Hassall's corpuscules in the guinea pig. A light and electron microscopic study. Z Zellforsch 89:180–192
Mandel T (1970) Differentiation of epithelial cells in the mouse thymus. Z Zellforsch 106:498–515
Mandi B, Glant T (1973) Thymosin-producing cells of the thymus. Nature (New Biol) 246:25
Oláh I, Röhlich P, Törö I (1975) Ultrastructure of lymphoid organs. An electron-microscopic atlas. Massen, Paris, p 105–147
Otto HF, Hüsselmann H (1978) Klinisch-pathologische Studie zur Klassifikation und Prognose von Thymustumoren. I. Histologische und Ultrastruktur-pathologische Untersuchungen. Z Krebsforsch 91:81–102
Raviola E, Karnovsky MJ (1972) Evidence for a blood-thymus barrier using electron-opaque tracers. J Exp Med 136:466–498
Rosai J, Levine GD (1975) Tumors of the Thymus. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C.
Sainte-Marie G (1974) Tridimensional reconstruction of the rat thymus. Anat Rec 179:517–526
Schmitt D, Monier JC, Dardenne M, Pleau JM, Deschaux P, Bach JF (1980) Cytoplasmic localization of FTS (Facteur thymique serique) in thymic epithelial cells. An immunoelectronmicroscopical study. Thymus (in press)
Sun TT, Green H (1978) Immunofluorescent staining of keratin fibers in cultured cells. Cell 14:469–476
Tomasi TB, Yurchak AM (1972) The synthesis of secretory component by the human thymus. J Immunol 108:1132–1135
Van Haelst U (1967) Light and electron microscopic study of the normal and pathological thymus of the rat. I. The normal thymus. Z Zellforsch 77:534–553
Van Haelst U (1967) Light and electron microscopic study of the normal and pathological thymus of the rat. II. The acute thymic involution. Z Zellforsch 80:153–182
Vetters JM, Macadam RF (1973) Fine structural evidence for hormone secretion by the human thymus. J Clin Pathol 26:194–197
Viac J, Schmitt D, Staquet MJ, Thivolet J (1980) Epidermis-thymus antigenic relations with special reference to Hassall's corpuscules. Thymus 1:319
Viac J, Schmitt D, Staquet MJ, Thivolet J, Ortonne JP, Bustamante R (1980) Binding specifity of guinea pig anti-alpha keratin polypeptide sera on human keratinocytes: comparison of their receptors with those of human epidermal cytoplasmic antibodies. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 60:189–196
Viac J, Staquet MJ, Goujon C, Thivolet J (1980) Experimental production of antibodies against stratum corneum keratin polypeptides. Arch Dermatol Res 267:179–188
Weiss L (1977) The thymus. In: Weiss L, Greep RO (eds) Histology, 4th ed. McGraw-Hill, p 503–522
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dedicated to Professor Dr. G. Seifert on the occasion of his 60th birthday
This study was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Lo 285/2-1; Ot 53/4-7)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Löning, T., Caselitz, J. & Otto, H.F. The epithelial framework of the thymus in normal and pathological conditions. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 392, 7–20 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00430544
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00430544