Thymic epithelial cell culture

Abstract

Culture of epithelial cells from the thymus of children and laboratory animals has been used for more than two decades to evaluate both the nature of these cells and their importance in the selection and maturation of functional T cells. Especially by the use of serum‐free cultures and by establishment of cell lines from cultured thymic epithelial cells (TEC), it has been possible to obtain basic information on morphology of subpopulations of TEC, including surface determinants of importance for interactions with T‐cell precursors, and on the repertoire of cytokines secreted by different types of TEC. The available information, obtained by co‐culture of pre‐T cells and TEC, on the effects of TEC on the fate of pre‐T cells suggests that cultured TEC/TEC lines are able both to secrete needed cytokines for T‐cell development, and to deliver signals needed for T‐cell selection. In vivo results showing cross‐talk between TEC and T cells indicate that more careful evaluation of interactions between well‐defined subtypes of cultured TEC and co‐cultured subpopulations of pre‐T cells (as well as macrophages/dendritic cells) will be of importance in evaluation of the function of the thymus. Microsc. Res. Tech. 38:276–286, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Cross‐reactivity of antibodies on thymic epithelial cells from humans and marmosets by flow‐cytometry

“…In contrast, TE-4 was detectable only in a few cultures, a finding that resembles our results in cultures from human thymus which indicates low prevalence of medullary epithelium. These results are in accordance with published data showing that medullary thymic epithelium is rarely detectable in primary cultures of thymic epithelium [17]. TE-15 and TE-19 were expressed only in some of the cultures from marmosets and humans.…”

Gelatin-Based 3D Microgels for In Vitro T Lineage Cell Generation

“…Thymocyte-depleted stromal cells were encapsulated in microgels with or without irradiated mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). TSCs were cultured in modified TEC media. , The protocol for in vitro 3D cultures of TSCs was adapted from the literature with some modifications. Here, two conditions of 3D cultures in microgels were examined: (1) MEF-in cultures: TSCs and MEFs were co-encapsulated in 1:2 ratio within the microgel and cultured in 24-well transwell inserts and (2) MEF-out cultures: TSCs alone were encapsulated in microgels and cultured on top of MEFs, grown as monolayers in transwell inserts.…”