CYTOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION OF THE MURINE MTEC1 THYMUS EPITHELIAL CELL LINE / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

A murine MTEC_1 thymus epithelial cell line established by us has been characterized. The cells were polyhydral and closely packed each other as epithelial like cells. Using anti-keratin antibody, the keratin were shown in cytoplasm of all cells. Under electronmicroscope, bunches of tonofilaments were clearly shown in the cytoplasm, and desmosomes were seen between neighbouring cells. Using anti-mouse epithelial cell monoclonal antibodies for immunohistochemical study, nearly all of the MTEC_1 cells were MTS33 positive. It suggests that MTEC, cells were derived from the epithelial cells located in medulla. The majority of the MTEC_1 cells have normal mouse diploid chomosome number of 40. These results provide evidence that MTEC, cell line is normal murine thymus epithelial cells.