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Transient Appearance of PHA-Reactive Thymocytes in the Foetal Mouse

Nature New Biology volume 242, pages 184–185 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

Mouse thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes acquire their ability to respond to phytomitogens while undergoing maturation in the thymus. Thus, neonatal thymocytes respond poorly to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or concanavalin A (Con A)1,2, adult thymocytes respond well to Con A but poorly to PHA (ref. 3), and the mature subpopulation of thymocytes selected by corticosteroid4 or dilute anti-θ serum1 treatment responds well to both mitogens. In the work I describe here, foetal mouse thymocytes were stimulated with PHA or Con A. By contrast with adult thymocytes, foetal cells were stimulated by PHA to a greater extent than by Con A. PHA reactivity was maximal at 18 day of gestation and decreased rapidly after birth. Reactivity to Con A appeared after PHA responsiveness and increased at the same time that PHA reactivity was decreasing. The paradoxical finding of a greater PHA reactivity during foetal life than during neonatal or adult life suggests that thymic lymphocytes are functionally mature soon after their first appearance, but their activity is obscured later either by elimination or dilution of reactive cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014

    D. E. MOSIER

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  1. D. E. MOSIER
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MOSIER, D. Transient Appearance of PHA-Reactive Thymocytes in the Foetal Mouse. Nature New Biology 242, 184–185 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio242184a0

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