Formation of Symbiotic Complex by Microenvironment-Dependent Mouse Leukemias and Thymic Epithelial Reticular Cells

• Published in: JNCI : Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1982-09, Vol.69 (3), p.627-637
• Main Authors: Nishi, Yoshimi, Yoshikawa, Kazuhiro, Hiai, Hiroshi, Notake, Kunihiro, Shisa, Hayase, Nishizuka, Yasuaki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Communication; Cell Line; Cell Movement - drug effects; Colchicine - pharmacology; Cytochalasins - pharmacology; Cytoskeleton - ultrastructure; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium - pathology; Leukemia, Experimental - pathology; Mice; Mice, Inbred AKR; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; Symbiosis - drug effects; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate - pharmacology; Thymus Gland - cytology; Thymus Gland - pathology
• ISSN: 0027-8874; 1460-2105
• DOI: 10.1093/jnci/69.3.627

Developing thymic leukemias of the mouse have been assumed to form symbiotic complexes with thymic microenvironments. This symbiosis is morphologically based on pseudoemperipolesis (PEMP). The mechanism of the association of microenvironment-dependent leukemia cells with thymic epithelial reticular cells (TER) was analyzed in vitro by scanning electron microscopy, microcinematography, and a quantitative assessment of PEMP. PEMP was a consequence of active locomotion of the leukemia cells, with TER passively accepting the leukemia cells' “crawling” under their cytoplasm. The integrity of the cytoskeletal system of both cells was essentially required for PEMP, since cytochalasins and colchicine were highly inhibitory to PEMP. The mechanism of action of these compounds was probably dual: inhibition of the locomotive movements of the leukemia cells. A similar inhibition of PEMP was also observed with the tumor promoter 1 2-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate.