Article
Phagocytic cells of the thymic reticulum interact with thymocytes via extracellular matrix ligands and receptors
Registro en:
MARTINS, Silvana Ayres et al. Phagocytic cells of the thymic reticulum interact with thymocytes via extracellular matrix ligands and receptors. Cellular Immunology, v. 229, p. 21-30, July 2004.
0008-8749
10.1016/j.cellimm.2004.06.002
1090-2163
Autor
Martins, Silvana Ayres
Lannes-Vieira, Joseli
Oliveira, Désio Aurélio Farias de
Brito, José Marques
Villa-Verde, Déa Maria Serra
Savino, Wilson
Resumen
We previously showed that, in the context of thymic epithelial cells, thymocyte migration is partially controlled by extracellular
matrix (ECM)-mediated interactions. Herein we evaluated whether these interactions could be involved in cell migration related
events in the context of non-epithelial cells of the thymic microenvironment, the phagocytic cells of the thymic reticulum (PTR). We
first showed, by immunocytochemistry, cytofluorometry, and RT-PCR, that PTR produce ECM components, including fibronectin
and laminin, and express the corresponding integrin-type receptors, VLA-4, VLA-5, and VLA-6. Thymocytes adhere onto PTR
monolayers, with immature CD4þCD8þ cells being predominant. Importantly, such an adhesion is partially mediated by ECM
ligands and receptors, since it was impaired by anti-ECM or anti-ECM receptor antibodies. Conjointly, our data reveal that the
ECM-dependence for thymocyte adhesion onto the thymic microenvironment is not restricted to the epithelial cells, being also seen
when they encounter non-epithelial phagocytic cells. 2025-01-01