Abstract
The thymus plays a special role as a principal site of T cell differentiation and maturation (Cantor and Weissman, 1976). The framework of the thymus is formed principally by thymic epithelial cells (TEC), with which thymocytes are in intimate contact (Rouse and Weissman, 1981). A distinctive feature of TEC is expression of la (class n major histocompatibility complex) antigens, antigens which are generally observed on other epithelia only after stimulation (Barclay and Mason, 1982; Scheynius and Tjerlung, 1984; Cerf-Bensussan et al, 1984). In a few situations this apparently distinctive feature of TEC is not observed. These exceptions may shed light upon the role of TEC la antigen expression in thymocyte differentiation.
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© 1985 Plenum Press, New York
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Rouse, R.V. (1985). Is Ia Antigen Expression by Thymic Epithelial Cells Constitutive?. In: Klaus, G.G.B. (eds) Microenvironments in the Lymphoid System. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2463-8_110
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2463-8_110
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