Abstract
Human thymoma is derived from thymic epithelial cells and often associated with a large number of conical thymocytes. Since thymic epithelial cells play key roles in T-cell development in the normal thymus, we hypothesized that the neoplastic epithelial cells of thymoma may support T-cell differentiation. We attempted to reconstitute the T-cell development in vitro by using neoplastic epithelial cells isolated from thymoma. CD34, a stem cell marker, was expressed on a proportion of CD4-CD8- cells in thymoma. These CD34+CD4-CD8- cells also expressed both IL-7R α-chain and common γ-chain. Purified CD4-CD8- cells from thymomas were cultured with the neoplastic epithelial cells, and their differentiation into CD4+CD8+ cells via CD4 single positive intermediates was observed within 9 days' co-culture in the presence of recombinant IL-7. The CD34+CD4-CD8- cells purified from a normal thymus also differentiated to CD4+CD8+ cells in an allogeneic co-culture with the neoplastic epithelial cells of thymoma. In addition, a pleural dissemination from thymoma contained a large amount of cortical thymocytes. These results suggest that the neoplastic epithelial cells retain the function of thymic epithelium and can support T-cell development in thymomas.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 541-547 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Pathology Research and Practice |
Volume | 195 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 1 1999 |
Keywords
- Human
- T-cell development
- Thymic epithelial cell
- Thymoma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
- Cell Biology