T cell-B cell thymic cross-talk: maintenance and function of thymic B cells requires cognate CD40-CD40 ligand interaction.

ABSTRACT: Thymic development requires bidirectional interaction or cross-talk between developing T cells and thymic stromal cells, a relationship that has been best characterized for the interaction between thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells. We have characterized in this article the requirement for similar cross-talk in the maintenance and function of thymic B cells, another population that plays a role in selection of developing thymic T cells. We found that maintenance of thymic B cells is strongly dependent on the presence of mature single-positive thymocytes and on the interactions of these T cells with specific Ag ligand. Maintenance of thymic B cell number is strongly dependent on B cell-autonomous expression of CD40, but not MHC class II, indicating that direct engagement of CD40 on thym

SUBMITTER: Fujihara C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4239311 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature