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Majority of TcRβ+ T-lymphocytes located in thymus and midgut of the bony fish, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.)

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Abstract

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization analyses were performed to investigate the occurrence and distribution of T-lymphocytes expressing TcRβ in intestine and lymphoid tissues of the bony fish, Dicentrarchus labrax (sea bass). Immunohistochemistry with the monoclonal antibody DLT15 (pan-T-cell marker) was carried out to compare the cytology, distribution and number of T-cells and TcRβ+ cells in the various sampled lymphoid organs. The highest TcRβ expression was revealed by real-time PCR in the thymus, with high levels also being found in the gut. In the thymus, DLT15+ and TcRβ+ cell populations were concentrated in the cortex and TcRβ+ cells were notably reactive at the cortical-medullary border, suggesting a specialized role of this region in thymocyte selection. The density of DLT15+ T-cells increased from the anterior to posterior intestine, whereas TcRβ+ lymphocytes were more numerous in the middle intestine compared with other segments. The existence, in fish thymus, of a medulla and a cortex comparable with those of mammals is revealed by this study. The concentration of TcRβ+ cells in the sea bass midgut also strongly suggests a special role of this intestinal segment in antigen-specific cellular immunity. The large population of TcRβ-/DLT15+ T-cells in the posterior gut can probably be ascribed to the TcRγδ phenotype fraction.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Dr. Magugliani and Mr. E. Vela (Nuova Azzurro, Torvaldaliga-Civitavecchia, Rome, Italy) for the generous supply of experimental animals and to Prof. G. Scapigliati (University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy) for the supply of DLT15 and DLIg3 monoclonal antibodies. We thank Prof. G. Vasta (Center of Marine Biotechnology, Baltimore, Md., US) for critically reading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy

    Nicla Romano, Francesca Rossi, Elisabetta Caccia, Rita Piergentili, Lucia Mastrolia, Elisa Randelli & Francesco Buonocore

  2. Department of Biology and Evolution, Section of Comparative Anatomy, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

    Luigi Abelli

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Blocco D, Università della Tuscia, Largo dell’università, 01100, Viterbo, Italy

    Nicla Romano

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  1. Nicla Romano
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  2. Francesca Rossi
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Correspondence to Nicla Romano.

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Romano, N., Rossi, F., Abelli, L. et al. Majority of TcRβ+ T-lymphocytes located in thymus and midgut of the bony fish, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.). Cell Tissue Res 329, 479–489 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-007-0429-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-007-0429-z

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