Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1-2
pubmed:dateCreated
1989-7-11
pubmed:abstractText
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.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0301-0163
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
31
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
81-4
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1989
pubmed:articleTitle
Neuroendocrinology of the thymus.
pubmed:affiliation
Laboratoire de Radioimmunologie, Unité de Neuroendocrinologie, CHU-B23, Université de Liège-Sart Tilman, Belgique.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't