Identification of thymocyte precursors in murine fetal liver

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Abstract
We have isolated thymic stem cells from murine fetal liver using a combination of approaches including discontinuous albumin density gradient separation and anti‐heat‐stable antigen (HSA) antibody plus complement‐mediated lysis. A population of early precursors has been identified which comprises approximately 1% of fetal liver, and which has the capacity to reconstitute alymphoid lobes and give rise to the four thymic subpopulations defined by expression of the T cell differentiation antigens CD4 and CD8. These early precursors express CD44 (Pgp‐1), however, they are negative for expression of Thy‐1, CD4, CD8, CD3, membrane immunoglobulin and HSA cell surface molecules.