AIM: Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are thought to play an essential role in T cell development and have been detected mainly in @entity19 using lectin binding and antibodies to keratins. Our aim in the present study was to create a precise map of @entity35 TECs using antibodies to putative markers and novel monoclonal antibodies (i.e., ED 18/19/21 and anti-CD205 antibodies) and compare it with a map from @entity19 counterparts and that of @entity35 thymic dendritic cells. RESULTS: @entity35 TECs were subdivided on the basis of phenotype into three subsets; ED18+ED19+/-keratin 5 (K5)+K8+CD205+ class II MHC (MHCII)+ cortical TECs (cTECs), ED18+ED21-K5-K8+Ulex europaeus lectin 1 (UEA-1)+CD205- medullary TECs (mTEC1s), and ED18+ED21+K5+K8dullUEA-1-CD205- medullary TECs (mTEC2s). Thymic nurse cells were defined in cytosmears as an ED18+ED19+/-K5+K8+ subset of cTECs. mTEC1s preferentially expressed MHCII, @entity9097 , @entity25644 , and @entity68276 (AIRE). Use of ED18 and ED21 antibodies revealed three subsets of TECs in @entity19 as well. We also detected two distinct @entity16096 -free areas in the subcapsular cortex and in the medulla. @entity35 dendritic cells in the cortex were MHCII+CD103+ but negative for @entity16096 markers, including CD205. Those in the medulla were MHCII+CD103+ and CD205+ cells were found only in the @entity16096 -free area. CONCLUSION: Both @entity35 and @entity19 have three @entity16096 subsets with similar phenotypes that can be identified using known markers and new monoclonal antibodies. These findings will facilitate further analysis of @entity16096 subsets and DCs and help to define their roles in thymic selection and in pathological states such as @entity792 .

Three distinct subsets of thymic epithelial cells in @entity35 and XXXX defined by novel antibodies.

@entity9097 :: ('65130(Tax:10116)', 'Gene') :: ['claudin-3'] @entity16096 :: ('MESH:C536980', 'Disease') :: ['TEC'] @entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['mice', 'mouse'] @entity25644 :: ('304407(Tax:10116)', 'Gene') :: ['claudin-4'] @entity68276 :: ('294328(Tax:10116)', 'Gene') :: ['autoimmune regulator'] @entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['rat', 'Rat', 'rats'] @entity792 :: ('MESH:D001327', 'Disease') :: ['autoimmune disorders']
@entity19 :: (10090,Species) :: ['mice']
