T Cell Generation in a Lymphopenic Environment Generates Disease when the Thoracic Thymus is Eliminated; Augmentation by IL-7/Anti-IL-7 Complexes

• Author / Creator

  Smolarchuk, Christa

• Cervical thymus functionally mimics the thoracic thymus in supporting T cell
  development and exists in a subset of mice and humans. Importantly, it remains
  unknown whether the cervical thymus generates an overall repertoire of T cells
  that are self-tolerant similar to the thoracic thymus. Mice that developed T cells in
  the absence of the T cell output from the thoracic thymus developed a disease
  characterized by lethargy, swollen eyes and cachexia. Our data supports that the
  cervical thymus can function in the absence of the thoracic thymus; however, the T cell repertoire is not fully self-tolerant. Evidence suggests that disease occurs as
  a result of lymphopenia-driven autoimmunity similar to disease seen after transfer of thymocytes into lymphopenic hosts. Therefore, we used this model to
  demonstrate that IL-7, an important homeostatic cytokine, can augment disease
  although the mechanism remains to be elucidated.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • T cell
  • Tolerance
  • Lymphopenia
  • Cervical thymus
  • Autoimmunity

• Graduation date

  Spring 2012

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3XK6C

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.