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. 1985 Apr;54(4):745–754.

The human thymus microenvironment: heterogeneity detected by monoclonal anti-epithelial cell antibodies.

R A de Maagd, W A MacKenzie, H J Schuurman, M A Ritter, K M Price, R Broekhuizen, L Kater
PMCID: PMC1453544  PMID: 3884494

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies were raised against human thymus stromal cells and their specificity for the epithelial component of thymus stroma assessed by double immunofluorescence using anti-keratin antibodies to identify epithelium. Our monoclonal antibodies identify six distinct patterns of epithelial cell antigen expression within the thymus: pan epithelial (antibody IP1); cortex (MR3 and MR6); cortical/medullary junction (IP2); subcapsule and subpopulation of medulla (MR10/MR14); Hassall's corpuscles and adjacent subpopulation of medulla (IP3); Hassall's corpuscles only (MR13/IP4). This heterogeneity of antigen expression suggests that many different epithelial microenvironments exist within the human thymus.

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Selected References

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