Modulation of T-cell differentiation in murine fetal thymus organ cultures

Abstract

The effects of IL-1, IL-2 and a panel of monoclonal antibodies to thymic stroma and/or thymocytes, on T-cell differentiation in murine fetal thymus organ cultures were followed. Day-14 fetal thymic lobes were cultured for up to 12 days in the presence of IL-1 and/or IL-2 at concentrations of 100 U/ml. Development of all the major subpopulations defined by CD4 and CD8 expression was inhibited by IL-2, however, the degree of inhibition was greatest for CDD4+CD8- and CD4+CD8+ subsets. IL-1 alone caused only minor shifts in the subpopulations, but when added together with IL-2 the inhibitory effects of IL-2 were markedly enhanced. Analyses of subsets of CD4-CD8- cells demonstrated that the inhib..