Cellular immune responses to Col V, vimentin and kα-1-tubulin are present in human cord blood and fetal thymus. (A) Commercially available, cryopreserved, CD34 depleted cord blood samples were attained from 3 different donors and responses to Col I, Col V, kα-1-tubulin and vimentin were investigated using TGFβ neutralization strategies or pharmacological inhibition of CD39 activity with ARL67156. A dramatic increase in swelling was observed with Col V, kα-1-tubulin and Vimentin when either TGFβ was neutralized or CD39 enzymatic activity was inhibited (ARL67156) vs IgG treated controls. (B) Fetal thymus samples (16 and 17 weeks) from two individuals were attained along with autologous splenic wedge. Thymocytes were isolated and mixed with T cell depleted splenocytes (for antigen presentation) and Col I, Col V, or kα-1-tubulin with or without TGFβ neutralization.