Functional histology of the neuroendocrine thymus

Moll, Ute M.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(19970801)38:3<300::aid-jemt10>3.0.co;2-r

Cited by 32 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 97 publications

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“…This may be because capsular cells are derived from the neural crest, thymic hormones are similar to some neural peptides [51] and growth hormone is endogenously produced in sub-capsular epithelial cells [52]. It has been proposed that thymic nurse cells may have a neurohormonal function in the thymus [53].…”

Section: Development/ontogeny Of the Thymusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and function of the thymus in teleosts

Bowden

Cook

Rombout

2005

Fish & Shellfish Immunology

114

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Section: Development/ontogeny Of the Thymusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and function of the thymus in teleosts

Bowden

Cook

Rombout

2005

Fish & Shellfish Immunology

114

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“…Epithelial cells of the mammalian thymus secrete cytokines and neuroendocrine peptides into the microenvironment within the thymus (Moll, 1997 ;Geenen et al 1998). The same features have also been described in the chicken thymus (Marsh & Scanes, 1994), but neuroendocrine peptides are secreted by endocrine cells located in the medulla (Atoji et al 1997).…”

Section: mentioning

confidence: 73%

Parvalbumin in cortical epithelial cells of the pigeon thymus

2000

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We examined the distribution of parvalbumin in the pigeon thymus by light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry. Tissues were also examined by conventional electron microscopy to determine the ultrastructure of immunoreactive cells. Parvalbumin immunoreaction was located in epithelial cells of the cortex, which formed dense mesh-like structures. Parvalbumin-positive epithelial cells were classified into 2 types. The first comprised elongated cells. In these, the nucleus was spindle-shaped, oval, or triangular, with a slightly irregular contour and contained rich heterochromatin peripherally. The cytoplasm was pale and processes extended laterally or ramified among the surrounding thymocytes. This type of cell formed the majority of immunoreactive cells. The other cell type consisted of polygonal epithelial cells. The nucleus was oval with deep indentations. Euchromatin occupied a large part of the nucleus. The cytoplasm contained numerous cell organelles compared with the elongated type, in particular, electron-dense vacuoles of various sizes and often bundles of tonofilaments. Both types of epithelial cell were interconnected by desmosomes. No secretory granules were found in the cytoplasm of elongated or polygonal cells. These results indicate the presence of heterogeneous group of parvalbumin-immunoreactive epithelial cells and suggest the likelihood of different functional roles for parvalbumin in the pigeon thymus.

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“…A large body of work has established that intricate interactions of both a stimulatory and inhibitory nature exist between the neuroendocrine and immune systems (reviewed in [19][20][21]45]). Thymus is one central tissue in this respect [45]. Supporting evidence for a role of TRH in this network is the finding that a proper T-cell-dependent immune response requires the early activation of TRH and prolactin [22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The human neuroendocrine thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor promoter is activated by the haematopoietic transcription factor c-Myb

Matre

Høvring

Fjeldheim

et al. 2003

Biochemical Journal

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Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) receptor (TRHR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor playing a crucial role in the anterior pituitary where it controls the synthesis and secretion of thyroidstimulating hormone and prolactin. Its widespread presence not only in the central nervous system, but also in peripheral tissues, including thymus, indicates other important, but unknown, functions. One hypothesis is that the neuropeptide TRH could play a role in the immune system. We report here that the human TRHR promoter contains 11 putative response elements for the haematopoietic transcription factor c-Myb and is highly Mybresponsive in transfection assays. Analysis of Myb binding to putative response elements revealed one preferred binding site in intron 1 of the receptor gene. Transfection studies of promoter deletions confirmed that this high-affinity element is necessary for efficient Myb-dependent transactivation of reporter plasmids in CV-1 cells. The Myb-dependent activation of the TRHR promoter was strongly suppressed by expression of a dominant negative Myb-Engrailed fusion. In line with these observations, reverse transcriptase PCR analysis of rat tissues showed that the TRHR gene is expressed both in thymocytes and bone marrow. Furthermore, specific, high-affinity TRH agonist binding to cell-surface receptors was demonstrated in thymocytes and a haematopoietic cell line. Our findings imply a novel functional link between the neuroendocrine and the immune systems at the level of promoter regulation.

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Functional histology of the neuroendocrine thymus

Cited by 32 publications

References 97 publications

Development and function of the thymus in teleosts

Development and function of the thymus in teleosts

Parvalbumin in cortical epithelial cells of the pigeon thymus

The human neuroendocrine thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor promoter is activated by the haematopoietic transcription factor c-Myb

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