Dynamics of Thymocyte-Stromal Cell Interactions Visualized by Two-Photon Microscopy

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 p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2002-06, Vol.296 (5574), p.1876-1880
Main Authors: Bousso, Philippe, Bhakta, Nirav R., Lewis, Richard S., Robey, Ellen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity
Animals
Antigen Presentation
Benzopyrans
Biological and medical sciences
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology
Cell Aggregation
Cell Communication
Cell interactions
Cell Movement
Cell Size
Cellular biology
Coculture Techniques
Endothelial cells
Fluoresceins
Fluorescent Dyes
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fundamental immunology
Genetic aspects
Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - immunology
Imaging
Immunity
Immunobiology
Individualized Instruction
Lasers
Lymphatic system
Lymphocytes
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Transgenic
Microscopy
Microscopy - methods
Naphthols
Organ Culture Techniques
Peptides
Photons
Positive selection
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - immunology
Rhodamines
Signal Transduction
Stromal cells
Stromal Cells - immunology
Stromal Cells - physiology
Succinimides
T cell antigen receptors
T cells
T lymphocytes
T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology
T-Lymphocytes - cytology
T-Lymphocytes - immunology
T-Lymphocytes - physiology
Thymocytes
Thymus Gland - cytology
Thymus Gland - immunology
Time Factors
Topology
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Description
Summary: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.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1070945