RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Immunohistochemical Expression Patterns of Neural and Neuroendocrine Markers, the Neural Growth Factor Receptors and the, β-Tubulin II and IV Isotypes in Human Thymus
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 295
OP 303
VO 28
IS 1A
A1 BAI, MARIA
A1 PAPOUDOU-BAI, ALEXANDRA
A1 KARATZIAS, GEORGIOS
A1 DOUKAS, MICHAIL
A1 GOUSSIA, ANNA
A1 STEFANAKI, KALLIOPI
A1 RONTOGIANNI, DIMITRA
A1 DALAVANGA, YOTANNA
A1 AGNANTIS, NIKI JOHN
A1 KANAVAROS, PANAGIOTIS
YR 2008
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/28/1A/295.abstract
AB Increasing evidence suggests that neuroimmune networks play key roles in the thymic histophysiology and pathology. Prompted by this, we analyzed by immunohistochemistry the distribution of human thymic cells expressing major neural and neuroendocrine markers and neural growth factor (NGF) receptors in combination with the expression patterns of various cytokeratins. Additionally, since some, β-tubulin isotypes are preferentially expressed in neuronal cells, the immunotopographical distribution of thymic cells expressing, β-tubulin II, III and IV was analyzed. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) expressed protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), chromogranin A (CHRA), synaptophysin (SYN), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), CD56, CD57, neurofilaments (NF) (140-160 kDa), NGF receptors (TrKA and p75), β-tubulin II and IV isotypes and cytokeratin 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 18 and 19. PGP 9.5 was preferentially expressed in cortical TEC whereas SYN, CHRA, NSE, TH and NF 140-160 kDa were preferentially expressed in medullary TECs and Hassal corpuscles. Variable levels of expression of β-tubulin II and IV were observed in all TEC subtypes whereas β-tubulin III was undetectable in TECs. Subcapsular and cortical TECs display higher expression of β-tubulin IV and lower expression of β-tubulin II in comparison to those observed in medullary TEC and Hassal corpuscles. The diversity of the immunotopographical distibution and the expression of neural and neuroendocrine markers, the NGF receptors TrKA and p75, and the β-tubulin II and IV isotypes in the distinct subtypes of TEC may reflect the diversity of their biological functions and/or their different stages of differentiation. The present results provide further immunohistological evidence that numerous neural and neuroendocrine factors may be required for the development and function of the human thymic microenvironment.