A mouse thymic epithelial cell line MTEC1 selectively promoted CD_4~+CD_8~-mature thymocytes to proliferate / 中国免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

MTEC1 cell line,established in our laboratory,was identified as epithelial cells in nature and derived from ormal Balb/c mouse thymus medulla.To study the impact of MTEC1 cells on thedeveloping of mature thymocytes,we ocultured MTEC1 cells or/and MTECI cell culture supertants(MTEC1—SN)with cortision resistant thymocytesCRT).The results showed that,without anyadditional stimulators,MTEC1 cells could maintain the viability f RT cells,and slightly butsignificantly promote CRT cells to proliferate.MTEC1—SN alone could maintain the viability fCRT cells,but not promote CRT cells to proliferate.Added suboptical doses of Con A into medium,the number of the iable CRT cells and the extent of proliferaton of CRT cells were significantlyincreased when CRT cells was cocultured ith MTECI cells and/or MTEC1—SN.The phenotypes of viable CRT cells after cocultured with MTEC1 cells or TEC1—SN wereanalysed on flow cytometry(FACS).The viable CRT cells were seperated by density cut aftercocultured with MTECI cells or MTEC1—SN for 5 days,then stained with PE-anti-L3T4 and FITC-anti-Ly2 cAbs.The results showed that MTEC1 cells selectively promoted CD4~+CD8-thymocytesto proliferate,the ratio of CD4+CD8~-/CD4~-CD8~+ increased from 1.4 to 3.1.Under thBe conditionof MTEC1 cells cocultured with Con A activated RT ells,MTEC1 cells also mainly promoted CD4~+CD8~-thymocytes to proliferate.MTEC1-SN alone could maintain the iability of CD4~+CD8~-and CD4~-CD8~+thymocytes,andpromoted Con A activated CD4~+CD8~- and CD4~-CD8+thymocytes to proliferate,the propotion oftwo subsets was 34.6?3.5% and 49.7?6.1%.These studies emostrated that MTEC1 cell linepossess selective functions on the intrathymic T cell evelopment.