CELLS BEARING IA ANTIGENS IN THE MURINE THYMUS - AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY

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  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 111  (1) , 88-97
Abstract
Light microscopic and EM immunohistochemical examination of the murine thymus revealed that epithelial cells throughout the thymus expressed Ia antigens, as did interdigitating cells, monocytes and macrophages located in perivascular cuffs associated with corticomedullary and medullary blood vessels. Thymic lymphocytes also expressed Ia antigens, but only at areas of contact with Ia-positive nonlymphoid cells. Evidence for synthesis of Ia antigens by epithelial cells, but not by thymic lymphocytes was observed. Several morphologically distinct populations of cells in the thymus express Ia antigens and may be involved in cellular interactions regulating I-region-restricted T lymphocyte differentiation.