Neuroendocrinology of the thymus

Geenen, Vincent; Robert, Françoise; Defresne, Marie-Paule; Boniver, Jacques; Legros, Jean-Jacques; Franchimont, Paul

doi:10.1159/000181092

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Neuroendocrinology of the thymus

Geenen, Vincent; Robert, Françoise; Defresne, Marie-Paule et al.

1989 • In Hormone Research, 31 (1-2), p. 81-84

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/23234

DOI
10.1159/000181092

PubMed
2656471

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Abstract :

[en] The neuropeptides oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) are synthesized in the human thymus in a similar way as in the hypothalamo-neurophypophyseal system. Immunocytochemistry with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies revealed that immunoreactive OT- and VP-producing cells are localized in the subcapsular cortex and medulla of human and murine thymuses. The epithelial nature of the neuroendocrine thymic cells is demonstrated by their immunostaining with a monoclonal antibody against cytokeratin. An original example of a neuroendocrine-immune microenvironment is given by the thymic nurse cells which are composed of a large neuroendocrine epithelial cell enclosing numerous mitotic immature thymocytes. These observations and the previously reported mitogenic and immunomodulatory properties of VP and OT upon mature T cells and thymocytes strongly support the existence of a neuroendocrine thymo-lymphoid axis and an active role of thymic VP and OT in T cell differentiation and activation.

Disciplines :

Endocrinology, metabolism & nutrition
Anatomy (cytology, histology, embryology...) & physiology
Immunology & infectious disease

Author, co-author :

Geenen, Vincent ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre d'immunologie - Embryologie

Robert, Françoise

Defresne, Marie-Paule ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Histologie - Cytologie

Boniver, Jacques ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Anatomie pathologique

Legros, Jean-Jacques ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Endocrinologie clinique

Franchimont, Paul

Language :

English

Title :

Neuroendocrinology of the thymus

Publication date :

1989

Journal title :

Hormone Research

ISSN :

0301-0163

eISSN :

1423-0046

Publisher :

S. Karger, Basel, Switzerland

Volume :

Issue :

1-2

Pages :

81-84

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]

Available on ORBi :

since 22 September 2009

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