Control of Lymphoepithelial Interactions within Thymic Nurse Cells by Gamma-Interferon and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha. Possible Role in the Modulation of Intrathymic Education?

Abstract

The role of cytokines in the process of intrathymic differentiation is not yet clearly established. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha regulate 'in vivo' and 'in vitro' the interactions between epithelial cells and thymocytes within thymic nurse cells. The mechanism of action of these cytokines and their possible physiologic role 'in vivo' are discussed