CD3单抗诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡的流式细胞仪检测

采用不同浓度抗小鼠ＣＤ３ 复合物单抗刺激幼龄小鼠胸腺细胞,培养后分别在不同时间用流式细胞仪检测胸腺细胞的凋亡情况。结果表明,在ＣＤ３ 单抗诱导幼龄小鼠胸腺细胞４ 小时后,流式细胞仪即可测出凋亡细胞特有的ＡＰ峰。本项研究提示,用ＣＤ３ 单抗刺激未成熟胸腺细胞可以通过内源性的凋亡途径引起细胞死亡。未成熟Ｔ 细胞通过ＴＣＲ－ＣＤ３ 复合物与自身抗原接合激活上述过程可能与克隆清除的形成机制及自我耐受有关。     

LFA—1／ICAM—1在ConA诱导的小鼠胸腺细胞活化中的作用

用抗ＬＦＡ－１／ＩＣＡＭ－１粘附分子单克隆抗体和ＣｏｎＡ联合刺激小鼠胸腺细胞,初步研究了该膜分子在经ＴＣＲ／ＣＤ３介导的胸腺细胞活化信号传导以及胸腺细胞亚群选择中的作用。在ＣｏｎＡ刺激系统中,抗ＡＬＦＡ－１／ＩＣＡＭ－１单抗均能抑制胸腺细胞的增殖应答,且以抗ＬＦＡ－１单抗均能抑制胸腺细胞的增殖应答,且以抗ＬＦＡ－１单抗的作用更为显著,而在ＰＡＭ加钙离子载体Ａ２３１８７刺激体系中,抗ＬＦＡ－１单抗却     

LFA—1在胸腺细胞活化信号传导中的功能研究

在Ｃｏｎ Ａ和固相抗ＣＤ３单抗刺激系统中,应用抗ＬＦＡ－１／ＩＣＡＭ－１单抗,研究其在胸腺细胞活化中的功能作用,结果证明,培养初期加入可溶性抗ＬＦＡ－１可完全阻断Ｃｏｎ Ａ活化腺细胞增殖,对固相抗ＣＤ３单抗诱导的胸腺细胞活化也表现也相同的抑制效应,但对Ｃｏｎ Ａ刺激２４ｈ后的胸腺细胞应答以及ＩＬ－１＋ＩＬ－２诱导的胸腺细胞直殖无影响,在可溶性抗ＬＦＡ－１单抗的存在下,Ｃｏｎ Ａ诱导胸腺细胞合成ＩＬ     

人体胸腺和周围淋巴器官内T细胞亚群和NK细胞分布的研究

本文用多种Ｔ细胞和ＮＫ细胞单抗和免疫组织化学的ＡＢＣ技术,在冰冻切片上对人扁桃体、淋巴结、牌和胸腺内Ｔ细胞亚群和ＮＫ细胞的分布进行了检测。结果显示,ＣＤ５、ＣＤ８、ＣＤ４、ＣＤ３和ＡＩＧ３阳性细胞主要分布在扁桃体,淋巴结的副皮质区、脾的动脉周围淋巴鞘和胸腺,但各种抗体的反应强度不同。从各种Ｔ细胞工群的染色强度和形状看,胸腺髓质部的胸腺细胞相当于周围淋巴器官内的胸腺依赖区。胸腺内Ｔ细胞在分化过程中,质膜上的抗原也有相应变化。ＮＫ细胞主要分布在淋巴小结的生发中心,淋巴结和扁桃体的副皮质区,脾的红髓以及胸腺的筋质部。这些不同的分布,说明ＮＫ细胞不仅与淋巴小结的活动有关,可能还参与机体的免疫调节功能。     

cAMP与小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡相关性的研究

本文采用Ｆｏｒｓｋｏｌｉｎ诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡,探讨胞内ｃＡＭＰ浓度上升与细胞凋亡的相关性,采用透射电镜,ＦＣＭ和ＭＴＴ法,结果显示：Ｆｏｒｓｋｏｌｉｎ能诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡,不同浓度其作用程度不同,已由ＦＣＭ证实,透射电镜显示细胞凋亡的形态学特征,Ｆｏｒｓｋｏｌｉｎ激活胞内腺苷酸环化酶,产生大量ｃＡＭＰ,其诱导细胞凋亡数目最多的浓度,ＭＴＴ法显示其光密度（ＯＤ５７０）值最高,表示细胞活性最强。我     

细胞膜分子在表达Fas配体的小鼠胸腺树突状细胞诱导凋亡中的作用

通过TUNEL方法证明在小鼠胸腺组织中 ,有凋亡的胸腺细胞存在 ,但胸腺微环境对胸腺细胞的凋亡的调控机理一直不明 .研究发现Fas配体 (FasL)阳性细胞主要分布在胸腺的髓质区 .小鼠胸腺树突状细胞系 (MTSC4)表达FasL ,在体外介导34 %的单阳性细胞的消除 ,其中使Fas阳性的胸腺细胞的比率减少 6 0 % .MTSC4促细胞凋亡的作用 ,可被单糖GalNAc完全阻断 ,被抗胸腺基质细胞TSC表面分子的单抗PF1 8- 3和 (D + )半乳糖部分阻断 .这说明胸腺树突状细胞直接参与对胸腺细胞凋亡的调节 ,其作用机理中包括多种膜分子的相互作用     

小鼠胸树突状细胞系自发分泌多种类型细胞因子

建成小鼠胸腺基质细胞系，命名为ＭＴＳＣ４，经鉴定分析认为是ＤＣ来源。在无外来刺激条件下，ＭＴＳＣ４细胞可自发分泌多种类型细胞因子，已检测到的有ＩＬ－１，ＩＬ－６，ＩＬ－７，ＣＳＦ，ＩＦＮ及趋化因子（ＣＦ）等。其中ＩＬ－６，ＩＦＮ为较高水平分泌量，ＩＬ－１、ＣＦ为中等水平，ＩＬ－７、ＣＳＦ为较低水平分泌量。ＭＴＳＣ４不能自发分泌ＩＬ－３及ＴＮＦａ。ＭＴＳＣ４的建立有利于分析胸腺选择特别是阴性选择的机     

衰老对小鼠胸腺细胞表面抗原表达的影响

采用流式细胞计技术和胚胎胸腺器官体外培养实验研究不同年龄小鼠胸腺细胞的发育。结果表明,随着小鼠年龄的增长,胸腺细胞的细胞表型由Ｐｇｐ－１高向Ｐｇｐ－１低下调表达受阻;老年组小鼠胸腺与幼年组小鼠胸腺相比,含有较多的ＣＤ４和ＣＤ８双阴性细胞和Ｐｇｐ－１阳性细胞,较少ＣＤ４和ＣＤ８双阳性细胞和ＭＥＬ－１４阳性细胞。     

重组人胸腺素α原体外活性观察

以原核表达并纯化人胸腺素α原后,观察其体外活性,了解到胸腺素α原对胸腺细胞氢化考的松损伤有明显的保护作用,表现在它可明显提高氢化考的松损伤后细胞的数目和ＭＴＴ反应能力,氢化考的松引起胸腺细胞凋亡的发生,并显著降低ＣＤ４＋、ＣＤ８＋单阳性细胞和ＣＤ４－ＣＤ８－双阴性细胞的比例,胸腺素α原不能抑制胸腺细胞凋亡的发生,并可能对胸腺细胞凋亡有促进作用,与空白对照组比较,它也可明显降低ＣＤ４＋阳性细胞的比例,结果表明,胸腺素α原对胸腺细胞氢化考的松损伤的保护作用并非通过抑制凋亡而实现。     

血管免疫母细胞淋巴结病与胸腺幼稚T淋巴细胞关系的观察

本文运用荧光原位杂交（ＦＩＳＨ）技术结合淋巴细胞免疫表型分型方法,检测了血管免疫母细胞淋巴结病（ＡＩＬＤ）中含有特征性＋３细胞的免疫表型特征、细胞先经ＣＤ４和ＣＤ８免疫分型,再用３号染色体着丝粒异性的ＤＮＡ探针作原位杂交。结果发现含有＋３的细胞ＣＤ４和ＣＤ８阳性,即外周辅助性Ｔ细胞和抑制性Ｔ细胞均含有＋３,说咀＋３的畸变发生于胸腺中处于中期分化阶段的普通胸腺细胞,从而推测ＡＩＬＤ可能起源于胸腺幼稚的Ｔ细胞。     

凋亡相关分子PF18—3在ConA诱导活化后胸腺细胞凋亡中的表达特性分析

The expression pattern of McAb PF18-3 recognized molecule in activation induced thymocyte apoptosis was analysed. Results indicated that following activation by ConA, thymocytes underwent activation induced apoptosis identified by delayed production of DNA ladder and TUNEL positive staining of thymocytes in late stage of activation. PF18-3 molecule was found to express specifically in subset of apoptotic thymocytes with diploid. Kinetic comparison of expression between PF18-3 molecule and Fas or translocated membrane phospholipid suggested that PF18-3 molecule is different from them and likely to be a novel molecule related to thymocyte apoptosis.     

凋亡相关分子PF18-3在ConA诱导活化后胸腺细胞凋亡中的表达特性分析

对抗体PF18-3识别分子(PF18-3分子)在胸腺细胞活化后凋亡过程中的表达特性进行了观察分析,结果表明:经ConA活化后胸腺细胞经历活化后凋亡,表现为DNA梯状片段产生的时相后移,活化后期细胞TUNEL染色阳性。经FACS门技术分析确认,PF18-3分子在亚二倍体高含量的凋亡胸腺细胞亚群特异表达。与凋亡相关的Fas和膜磷脂易位表达的动态比较提示,PF18-3分子与前两类分子不同,可能为新型胸腺细胞凋亡相关分子。     

Induction of apoptosis in mouse thymocytes by microcolin A and its synthetic analog

Microcolin A (Mic-1), a marine-derived compound, has been shown to be a novel antiproliferative and immunosuppressive agent. We investigated the ability of Mic-1 and its chemosynthetic analog, microcolin A3 (Mic-3), to induce apoptosis in murine thymocytes. Following incubation of the cells with Mic-1 (10-100 nM) or Mic-3 (10-100 nM), internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in apoptotic cells was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis and the diphenylamine (DPA) assay; the presence of hypodiploid nuclei assessed by propidium iodide (PI) staining; and the percentages of apoptotic and necrotic cells quantified by morphological observation and fluorescein labeled annexin-V binding. Our results show that both Mic-1 and Mic-3 are potent inducers of apoptosis in thymocytes depending on drug concentration and time of exposure, with Mic-3 being more potent than Mic-1 in the induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis using monoclonal antibodies specific to thymocyte subpopulations showed that the proportion of the early immature CD4+ CD8+ T-cell subpopulation in thymocytes was selectively decreased by both agents with a corresponding increase of other subpopulations, indicating that CD4+ CD8+ T cells are the most likely targets of Mic-1 and Mic-3. These in vitro results suggest that the antiproliferative and immunosuppressive properties of both compounds are possibly associated with apoptosis-inducing events and imply that they may have additional potential value as antineoplastic agents.     

Tethering of apoptotic cells to phagocytes through binding of CD47 to Src homology 2 domain-bearing protein tyrosine phosphatase substrate-1

Apoptotic cells are swiftly phagocytosed by macrophages and immature dendritic cells. In this study, we found that one mouse macrophage cell line (BAM3) engulfed apoptotic thymocytes, but not a lymphoma cell line (WR19L). mAbs that inhibited the phagocytosis of apoptotic thymocytes by BAM3 were identified. Purification of the Ag revealed that it was Src homology 2 domain-bearing protein tyrosine phosphatase substrate-1 (SHPS-1). CD47, the ligand for SHPS-1, was expressed in mouse thymocytes, but not in WR19L. When WR19L was transformed with CD47, the transformants, after induction of apoptosis, could be phagocytosed by BAM3. The WR19L transformants expressing CD47 were more efficiently engulfed in vivo by splenic dendritic cells than the parental WR19L. Masking of the phosphatidylserine exposed on apoptotic thymocytes inhibited the engulfment, whereas the anti-SHPS-1 mAb inhibited not only the engulfment, but also the binding of apoptotic cells to phagocytes. These results indicate that macrophages require CD47 and phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cells for engulfment, and suggest that the interaction between CD47 and SHPS-1 works as a tethering step in the phagocytosis.     

Regulation of Bim by TCR signals in CD4/CD8 double-positive thymocytes

Bim, a BH3-only Bcl-2 family member, is required for apoptosis of thymocytes in response to negative selection signals. Regulation of the apoptotic activity of Bim during negative selection is not understood. In this study we demonstrate that in murine thymocytes undergoing apoptosis in response to anti-CD3epsilon injection, levels of Bim protein expression do not change. In immature thymocytes, Bim is associated with mitochondria before stimulation and is not regulated by a change in subcellular localization during apoptosis. We also show that Bim(EL) is rapidly phosphorylated in thymocytes in response to CD3epsilon cross-linking both in vivo and in vitro, and that phosphorylation is sustained for at least 24 h. Analysis of MHC-deficient mice shows that phosphorylation of Bim occurs in CD4/CD8 double-positive thymocytes and does not depend on activation of mature T cells. We also find that TCR cross-linking on thymocytes induces an increase in the proportion of Bcl-x(L) bound to Bim at late time points. Our results favor a model in which strong TCR signals regulate the apoptotic activity of Bim by phosphorylation and subsequent changes in binding to Bcl-x(L) in immature thymocytes.     

Cutting Edge: A possible role for CD4+ thymic macrophages as professional scavengers of apoptotic thymocytes

A vast majority of thymocytes are eliminated during T cell development by apoptosis. However, apoptotic thymocytes are not usually found in the thymus, indicating that apoptotic thymocytes must be eliminated rapidly by scavengers. Although macrophages and dendritic cells are believed to play such role, little is known about scavengers in the thymus. We found that CD4(+)/CD11b(+)/CD11c(-) cells were present in the thymus and that they expressed costimulatory molecules for T cell selection and possessed Ag-presenting activity. Moreover, these CD4(+)/CD11b(+) cells phagocytosed apoptotic thymocytes much more efficiently than thymic CD4(-)/CD11b(+) cells as well as activated peritoneal macrophages. CD4(+)/CD11b(+) cells became larger along with thymus development, while no such change was observed in CD4(-)/CD11b(+) cells. Finally, engulfed nuclei were frequently found in CD4(+)/CD11b(+) cells. These results strongly suggest that thymic CD4(+)/CD11b(+) cells are major scavengers of apoptotic thymocytes.     

In vivo administration of monoclonal antibodies to the CD3 T cell receptor complex induces cell death (apoptosis) in immature thymocytes.

Some thymocytes, upon activation via the TCR complex in vitro, undergo apoptotic cell death. In this report, we examine the cell death induced in the thymus after administration of anti-CD3 or anti-TCR antibodies. We found that shortly after antibody injection, cortical thymocytes undergo apoptosis as characterized by morphologic changes and DNA fragmentation. Anti-CD3 administration led to depletion of nearly all CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, and approximately 50% of CD4+CD8- thymocytes. This depletion predominantly affected cells bearing low levels of CD3, although some depletion also occurred among cells expressing intermediate and high levels. Administration of an anti-TCR antibody also induced apoptosis, but affected significantly fewer thymocytes than anti-CD3. This effect was probably not due to different binding affinities for the two antibodies, because both antibodies show similar dose response effects in an in vitro model of activation-induced apoptosis. This work demonstrates that findings on activation-induced apoptosis in vitro can be extended to the in vivo situation, and further, that the activation of cortical thymocytes, in situ, results in apoptosis and removal of the activated cells. The possible relationships between this activation-induced cell death in immature thymocytes and the process of negative selection of autoreactive T cells is discussed.     

High viral burden and rapid CD4+ cell depletion in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected SCID-hu mice suggest direct viral killing of thymocytes in vivo.

The mechanism of CD4+ cell loss in lymphoid organs is unknown. In this study, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of human fetal thymus/liver implants in severe combined immunodeficient mice was used to investigate the mechanism of HIV-induced depletion of CD4-bearing cells in vivo. The implants were assessed for depletion of CD4+ thymocytes, apoptosis, and viral burden. We detected two phases of CD4 cell depletion, an initial rapid phase and a more gradual later phase. Compared to mock-infected implants, HIV-infected implants did not demonstrate detectable increases in the levels of apoptosis while severe depletion of CD4-bearing cells was ongoing. During peak loss of CD4+ cells, high viral burden was observed, suggesting that loss of CD4+ cells in this in vivo system is due to direct killing of infected thymocytes. Increased levels of apoptosis were observed during the later phase of thymocyte depletion; however, these apoptotic cells lacked CD4. This finding suggests that a second indirect mechanism may be responsible for the destruction of CD4- CD8+ thymocytes in vivo. Taken together, these results suggest that CD4+ and CD4- cells may die by different mechanism(s).