Stromal cells provide the matrix for migration of early lymphoid progenitors through the thymic cortex Journal Article


Authors: Prockop, S. E.; Palencia, S.; Ryan, C. M.; Gordon, K.; Gray, D.; Petrie, H. T.
Article Title: Stromal cells provide the matrix for migration of early lymphoid progenitors through the thymic cortex
Abstract: During steady state lymphopoiesis in the postnatal thymus, migration of precursors outward from the deep cortex toward the capsule is required for normal differentiation. Such migration requires, at a minimum, expression of adhesive receptors on the migrating lymphoid cells, as well as a stable matrix of their ligands persisting throughout the region of migration. In this study, we address the nature of this adhesive matrix. Although some precursor stages bound efficiently to extracellular matrix ligands, a specific requirement for the cell surface ligand VCAM-1 was also found. In situ analysis revealed that early precursors are found in intimate contact with a matrix formed by stromal cells in the cortex, a proportion of which expresses VCAM-1. In vivo administration of an anti-VCAM-1 Ab resulted in decreased thymic size and altered distribution of early precursors within the cortex. These results indicate that precursors migrating outward through the cortex may use a cellular, rather than extracellular, matrix for adhesion, and suggest that the VCAM-1+ subset of cortical stroma may play a crucial role in supporting the migration of early precursors in the steady state thymus.
Keywords: controlled study; protein expression; nonhuman; animal cell; mouse; animals; mice; steady state; vascular cell adhesion molecule 1; in vivo study; cell differentiation; mice, inbred c57bl; stem cell; extracellular matrix; antibodies, monoclonal; thymus; thymus gland; hematopoietic stem cells; cell migration; cell movement; t-lymphocyte subsets; stroma cell; stromal cells; lymphopoiesis; organ size; cell adhesion; integrins; protein antibody; lymphoid cell; vascular cell adhesion molecule-1; extracellular matrix proteins; priority journal; article; injections, intralymphatic
Journal Title: Journal of Immunology
Volume: 169
Issue: 8
ISSN: 0022-1767
Publisher: The American Association of Immunologists, Inc  
Date Published: 2002-10-15
Start Page: 4354
End Page: 4361
Language: English
PUBMED: 12370368
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI: 10.4049/​jimmunol.169.8.4354
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 14 November 2014 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Susan E Prockop
    262 Prockop
  2. Howard T Petrie
    44 Petrie
  3. Kristie M Gordon
    3 Gordon
  4. Christina M Ryan
    1 Ryan