Effects of Thymus kotschyanus var. glabrescens Boiss. extract on mitomycin-C induced chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges in human lymphocytes

In this investigation, clastogenic effects of Thymus kotschyanus var. glabrescens Boiss. extract (TE) and anticlastogenic effects of this extract against Mitomycin C (MMC) induced chromosome damage have been evaluated in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro. Two series of experiments were conducted. In the first, only 10⁻⁵, 10⁻⁴, 10⁻³ and 10⁻² μl ml⁻¹ concentrations of TE were used for 48 h to detect potential clastogenicity. In the second, MMC (0.38 μg ml⁻¹) plus 10⁻⁵, 10⁻⁴, 10⁻³ and 10⁻² μl ml⁻¹ concentrations of TE were used for 48 h to determine anticlastogenic effects. TE did not increase sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) (except 10⁻² μl ml concentration) and chromosome aberrations (CAs) significantly compared with negative and solvent controls. However, it decreased the frequency of MMC induced chromosome aberrations. Decreasing was significant at 10⁻⁴, 10⁻³ and 10⁻² μl ml⁻¹ concentrations. On the other hand, TE significantly increased MMC-induced SCEs for all treatment groups compared with positive control.     

Development and maturation of thymic dendritic cells during human ontogeny

Thymic dendritic cells (TDC) are dendritic cells situated mainly in the cortico-medullary zone and in the medullary region of the thymus. However, the phenotype of TDC during ontogeny is poorly documented. The aim of this study has been to investigate the development and maturation of TDC during human ontogeny. Immunohistochemical analyses and immunoelectron-microscopic investigation of 21 human thymus specimens have been performed to detect the subtypes of TDC by using various DC-related and DC-development-related markers. TDC express a Langerhans-cell-like phenotype during human ontogeny. Cells expressing thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor have been observed in Hassal’s corpuscles of the thymus. Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is also expressed in thymic epithelial cells (TEC) localized in Hassal’s corpuscles. During human ontogeny, GM-CSF is produced by TEC of Hassal’s corpuscles and might play a key role in the differentiation of TDC having Langerhans-cell-like phenotypes.     

Interleukin 2 regulation following semi-allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in mice

Success of allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is hampered by susceptibility to infection during the first two post-treatment years. Further, in treating malignant diseases, impaired anti-host reactivity for donor cells may contribute to a high rate of relapse. Both complications are a consequence of immune deficiency involving B and T lymphocytes. The present study evaluates several key parameters of the immunologic reconstitution mechanism in mice subjected to myeloablative total body irradiation following semi-allogeneic (parental) BMT. This resulted in a gradual reduction of splenic CD3, CD4 and CD8 cells until day 45 post-BMT. Concomitantly, there was an increase in monocytes and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ (double positive) cells, accompanied by a persistent elevation in the percentage of B lymphocytes. The total thymic and splenic T cell populations were reduced until day +30. The cellular reduction correlated with the poor proliferative response of the thymic and splenic cells. A decrease occurred in IL-2 mRNA expression in thymic cells during days 15–20 post-transplant, corresponding with the low level of IL-2 secretion in the spleen and thymus of the transplanted mice. In conclusion, following semi-allogeneic BMT, there was an overall immune down-regulation in the cells, gene and protein levels. Reduced immunological responsiveness following BMT reinforces the need for improving the immune dysfunction by immunotherapy post-BMT.     

异株百里香花蜜腺的发育解剖学研究

异株百里香（Thymus marschallianus Willd）花蜜腺分布于子房基部的花托上,结构蜜腺盘状,成熟时膨大,环绕在花托外。蜜腺组织由分泌表皮、产蜜组织和维管束三部分组成;组织化学染色显示淀粉粒的积累是在蜜腺细胞发育的最初和最后,因此将其归为非淀粉型蜜腺。在发育的过程中细胞液泡化动态明显,而淀粉粒和多糖均不具有明显的消长变化;蜜汁是由韧皮部运转到泌蜜组织中的,再由表皮细胞的角质层渗到细胞外。     

Histochemical and molecular overview of the thymus as site for T-cells development

The thymus represents the primary site for T cell lymphopoiesis, providing a coordinated set for critical factors to induce and support lineage commitment, differentiation and survival of thymus-seeding cells. One irrefutable fact is that the presence of non-lymphoid cells through the thymic parenchyma serves to provide coordinated migration and differentiation of T lymphocytes. Moreover, the link between foetal development and normal anatomy has been stressed in this review. Regarding thymic embryology, its epithelium is derived from the embryonic endodermal layer, with possible contributions from the ectoderm. A series of differentiating steps is essential, each of which must be completed in order to provide the optimum environment for thymic development and function. The second part of this article is focused on thymic T-cell development and differentiation, which is a stepwise process, mediated by a variety of stromal cells in different regions of the organ. It depends strongly on the thymic microenvironment, a cellular network formed by epithelial cells, macrophages, dendritic cells and fibroblasts, that provide the combination of cellular interactions, cytokines and chemokines to induce thymocyte precursors for the generation of functional T cells. The mediators of this process are not well defined but it has been demonstrated that some interactions are under neuroendocrine control. Moreover, some studies pointed out that reciprocal signals from developing T cells also are essential for establishment and maintenance of the thymic microenvironment. Finally, we have also highlighted the heterogeneity of the lymphoid, non-lymphoid components and the multi-phasic steps of thymic differentiation. In conclusion, this review contributes to an understanding of the complex mechanisms in which the foetal and postnatal thymus is involved. This could be a prerequisite for developing new therapies specifically aimed to overcome immunological defects, linked or not-linked to aging.     

四种植物粘液繁殖体粘液的比较研究

对百里香(Thymus serpyllum)、平车前(Plantago depressa)、盐生车前(P．maritima)、野亚麻(Linum stelleroides)进行了粘液繁殖体粘液情况比较．以在水浸和浇水条件下植物种子粘沙量的多少衡量粘液量．结果表明,对于不同浸水时间处理,野亚麻和平车前未表现明显差异,盐生车前和百里香有随浸泡时间加长而粘液溶出量增多的趋势．对于不同浇水量处理,4种植物均有随浇水量增多而粘液增多的倾向．浸泡80min后,盐生车前种子的粘液粘沙使重量达原重的60多倍,平车前种子达原重的10倍左右,百里香和野亚麻种子达原重的4～6倍左右．浇水8mm后,盐生车前种子的粘液粘沙使重量达原重的20多倍,平车前种子达原重的6～10倍左右,百里香和野亚麻种子达原重的2～7倍左右．将各种处理平均,得到各种植物粘沙种子百分率为：野亚麻67．7％,百里香94．5％,平车前97．7％,盐生车前99．5％．     

干旱胁迫对沙冬青叶片防御光破坏机制的影响

沙冬青(Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Maxim.) Cheng f.)是生长在沙漠及干旱荒漠地区的常绿灌木.在夏季,其叶片经常遭受中午强光(超过1 500 μmol*m-2*s-1) 胁迫,出现明显的光抑制现象.我们利用便携式光合测定系统(CIRAS-1)和脉冲调制荧光仪(MFMS-2)测定了自然形成的干旱胁迫条件下沙冬青光合和荧光参数的日变化,主要探讨了干旱胁迫对沙冬青叶片防御强光破坏机制的影响.结果表明,正常水分和干旱胁迫下,沙冬青叶片的净光合速率(Pn)、 PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)和PSⅡ非环式电子传递效率(ΦPSⅡ)在中午都明显降低;相对正常水分条件而言,干旱胁迫下初始荧光(Fo)先下降后上升,荧光的非光化学淬灭(NPQ)上升较快并在一定水平上维持不变.由此推断晴天中午沙冬青叶片在正常水分条件下主要采取依赖叶黄素循环的热耗散机制;而在干旱胁迫条件下主要采取了依赖叶黄素循环的热耗散和PSⅡ反应中心可逆失活两种保护机制.     

An immuno-electron-microscopic study of human thymic B cells

Thymic B cells are a constituent of normal human thymic medulla. They are supposed to play a role in T cell maturation. Thymic B cells have been characterized morphologically and immunohistochemically at the light-microscopic level. Their ultrastructural appearance in vivo has not been demonstrated. Six normal infantile thymi were immunolabelled with the pan-B cell marker CD20 using a pre-embedding technique and viewed at the electron-microscopic level. Cells expressing CD20 had long cytoplasmic processes. They were all ”asteroid” in shape and in close contact with thymocytes. Also, their long cytoplasmic processes intermingled with cytoplasmic processes of cells that were presumed to be interdigitating reticulum cells (IDC) based on morphological criteria. Thymic B cells may act in concert with IDC during T cell maturation. Received: 20 October 1995 / Accepted: 10 January 1996     

Immunohistochemical characterization of the thymic microenvironment

Summary The epithelial framework of the human thymus has been studied in parallel by immunohistochemical methods at the light- and electron-microscopic levels. Different monoclonal antibodies were used, reacting with components of the major histocompatibility complex, keratins, thymic hormones and other as yet antigenically undefined substances, which show specific immunoreactivities with human thymus epithelial cells.The electron-microscopic immunocytochemical observations clearly confirm microtopographical differences of epithelial cells not only between the thymic cortex and medulla, but also within the cortex itself. At least four subtypes of epithelial cells could be distinguished: 1) the cortical surface epithelium; 2) the main cortical epithelial cells and thymic nurse cells; 3) the medullary epithelial cells; and 4) the epithelial cells of Hassall's corpuscles.The various epithelial cell types of the thymus display several common features like tonofilaments, desmosomes and some surface antigens as demonstrated by anti-KiM3. In other respects, however, they differ from each other. The cortical subtype of thymic epithelial cells including the thymic nurse cells shows a distinct pattern of surface antigens reacting positively with antibodies against HLA-DR (anti-HLA-DR) and anti-21A62E. Electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry with these antibodies clearly reveals a surface labeling and a narrow contact to cortical thymocytes particularly in the peripheral cortical regions. An alternative staining pattern is realized by antibodies to some antigens associated with other subtypes of thymic epithelial cells. Medullary epithelial cells as well as the cortical surface epithelium react likewise positively with antibodies to special surface antigens (anti-Ep-1), to special epitopes of cytokeratin (anti-IV/82), and to thymic hormones (anti-FTS). The functional significance of distinct microenvironments within the thymus provided by different epithelial cells is discussed in view of the maturation of T-precursor cells.Glossary of Abbreviations Anti-X anti-X antibody - APUD-cells amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (gastro-intestinal endocrine cells) - DAB diamino-benzidine - DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide - FTS facteur thymique sérique - HLA-A, B, C human leucocyte antigen, A, B, C-region related - HLA-DR human leucocyte antigen, D-region related - IDC interdigitating cell - MHC major histocompatibility gene complex - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - TNC thymic nurse cell This investigation was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and its Sonderforschungsbereich 111Fellow of the Alexander von Humbold-Stiftung, Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Federal Republic of GermanyThe authors appreciate the contribution of human thymus tissue from Professor Alexander Bernhard, Abteilung kardiovasculäre Chirurgie der Universität Kiel; the gift of monoclonal antibodies from Dr. M.J.D. Anderson, Dr. M. Dardenne and Dr. H.J. Radzun; and the excellent technical assistence of Mrs. O.M. Bracker, Mrs. H. Hansen, Mrs. R. Köpke, Mrs. M. v. Kolszynski, Mrs. J. Quitzau, Mrs. H. Siebke, and Mrs. H. Waluk