Lecture #25: Immune and Lymphatic System 2 Flashcards
Since the thymus does not have afferent lymphatics, how do lymphocytes get from the bone-marrow to the thymus for differentiation?
Since the thymus does not have afferent lymphatic vessels the lymphocytes cannot enter the thymus from the lymph system and can only enter the thymus via blood vessels. The lymphocytes going to the thymus in the blood are released form bone marrow and go to the thymus to differentiate into T-cells.
Are efferent lymphatics present in the capsule of the thymus?
YES
What do the trabeculae of the thymus divide it into?
incomplete lobules
What is found in the capsule of the thymus?
Blood Vessels
Efferent lymphatics
Extends trabeculae (septa) into the parenchyma.
Is the medulla or cortex of each lobule in the thymus stain a dark color?
The lobule of the thymus is composed of an outer, darker staining cortex and an inner, lighter staining medulla.
True or False:
Afferent lymphatics are present in the capsule of the thymus?
False - afferent lymphatics are NOT present in the thymus.
**Thus, lymph does not circulate through the thymus.
What different cell types are found in the dark staining cortex of the thymus?
> Epithelial reticular cells
- secrete thymosin
> T-cells in various stages of differentiation
What do epithelial reticular cells of the cortex secrete?
Thymosin
What is the importance of blood vessels in the cortex being surrounded by a continuous epithelial barrier?
It allows the thymus to maintain lymphopoiesis while segregated from antigens.
Are the capillary beds in the light staining medulla sheathed by epithelial cells?
NO
What are Hassall’s corpuscles and what do they produce?
Hassall’s corpuscles are highly keratinized medullary epithelial cells that produce cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin, which stimulates thymic dendritic cells needed for the maturation of single positive T-cells.
What does cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin function to do?
Stimulates thymic dendritic cells needed for the maturation of single positive T-cells.
What are whorls of highly keratinized medullary epithelial cells found in the medulla of the thymus lobule?
Hassall’s corpuscles
When is the thymus the most developed?
at puberty
In what age does the thymus involute?
During Adolescence
True or False:
The thymus has lymph follicles (nodules), afferent lymph vessels, and lymph sinuses.
FALSE -
NO lymph follicles (nodules)
NO afferent lymph vessels
NO lymph sinuses
**Thus, the thymus is solely devoted to the differentiation of T-cells
What is a double negative T-cell?
> Lacks cell surface molecules typical of mature T-cells
Enter cortex from blood vessels
Proliferate in subcapsular area
Where does the double negative T-cell proliferate at?
Proliferate in subcapsular area.
Where do double negative T-cells enter the thymus from blood vessels?
Enter cortex of thymus from blood vessels.
True or False:
Double negative T-cells lack cell surface molecules typical of mature T-cells.
True
What is a double positive T-cell?
Expresses both CD4 and CD8 co-receptors and TCR receptors.
True or False:
Double positive T-cells are confronted with epithelial cells with cell surface MHC classes I and II for clonal selection.
TRUE
What does single positive T-cells express on their surface?
Express TCR receptors and either CD4 and CD8 co-receptors.
Where is clonal deletion completed in the thymus?
Clonal deletion is completed in the medulla.
What kind of T-cell is typically found in the inner cortex of the thymus?
Single Positive T-Cells
What kind of T-cells are typically found in the outer cortex of the thymus?
Double Positive T-Cells
What type of T-cells are typically found in the subcapsular area?
Double Negative T-Cells
Fill in the Blank:
All T-cells keep the ________receptor and either the CD4 or CD8 co-receptors.
TCR
Thymic epithelial cells from the cortex and medulla derive from a common ectodermal cell precursor. What 2 keratins are expressed by this common ectodermal cell precursor?
Keratin 5 and Keratin 18
What transcription factor differentiates ectodermel cell precursor in to either corical thymic epitheliam cells or medullary thymic epithelial cells?
Foxn1 Transcription Factor
What keratin does cortical thymic epithelial cells express?
Keratin 18
What keratin does medullary thymic epithelial cells express?
Keratin 5