Dynamics of thymocyte-stromal cell interactions visualized by two-photon microscopy

Science. 2002 Jun 7;296(5574):1876-80. doi: 10.1126/science.1070945.

Abstract

Thymocytes are selected to mature according to their ability to interact with self major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide complexes displayed on the thymic stroma. Using two-photon microscopy, we performed real-time analysis of the cellular contacts made by developing thymocytes undergoing positive selection in a three-dimensional thymic organ culture. A large fraction of thymocytes within these cultures were highly motile. MHC recognition was found to increase the duration of thymocyte-stromal cell interactions and occurred as both long-lived cellular associations displaying stable cell-cell contacts and as shorter, highly dynamic contacts. Our results identify the diversity and dynamics of thymocyte interactions during positive selection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Benzopyrans
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Aggregation
  • Cell Communication*
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Size
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Fluoresceins
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology*
  • Lasers
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy / methods
  • Naphthols
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Photons
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
  • Rhodamines
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stromal Cells / immunology
  • Stromal Cells / physiology*
  • Succinimides
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Thymus Gland / cytology
  • Thymus Gland / immunology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • 5-(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester
  • Benzopyrans
  • Fluoresceins
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Naphthols
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Rhodamines
  • Succinimides
  • seminaphthorhodaminefluoride