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
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antigen Presentation
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Benzopyrans
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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Cell Aggregation
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Cell Communication*
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Cell Movement
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Cell Size
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Coculture Techniques
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Fluoresceins
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Fluorescent Dyes
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology*
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Lasers
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Transgenic
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Microscopy / methods
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Naphthols
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Organ Culture Techniques
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Photons
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
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Rhodamines
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Signal Transduction
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Stromal Cells / immunology
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Stromal Cells / physiology*
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Succinimides
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / cytology
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
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Thymus Gland / cytology
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Thymus Gland / immunology*
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Time Factors
Substances
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5-(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester
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Benzopyrans
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Fluoresceins
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Fluorescent Dyes
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
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Naphthols
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
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Rhodamines
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Succinimides
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seminaphthorhodaminefluoride