Marker for thymic stem cells identified
Scottish and Australian researchers have identified a protein marker
for thymic and possibly pancreatic stem cells.
Kate McDonald 29/01/2008 12:20:33
Scottish researchers, assisted by scientists from the Western
Australian Institute for Medical Research, have identified an orphan
protein called Plet-1 as a marker for thymic epithelial progenitor
cells (TEPC).
The protein might also prove a cell surface marker for pancreatic
progenitor cells, as it is highly expressed in by major duct
epithelium.
The research, published in the January 22 issue of the US Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences, was led by Clare Blackburn of
the Institute for Stem Cell Research in Edinburgh.
The WAIMR scientists, Professor Grant Morahan and Kathy Davern,
produced a new monoclonal antibody for the marker.
The Scottish team said it had previously identified the epithelial
progenitor population from which the thymus arises.
The thymus, the organ in which T cells grow and multiply, is active
in childhood but becomes non-functional in adulthood.
The same team has demonstrated the cells ability to generate a
functional thymus upon transplantation.
The cells were identified by two monoclonal antibodies, MTS20 and
MTS24, which also identify skin stem cells.
The new research in mice shows that the two antibodies specifically
bind Plet-1 (placenta-expressed transcript 1), whose function is
still unknown.
The researchers say Plet-1 is expressed in a number of sites in adult
tissues, including mammary and prostate epithelia, and in the
pancreas.
"Plet-1 is specifically expressed by the major duct epithelium,
providing a specific cell surface marker for this putative reservoir
of pancreatic progenitor/stem cells," the researchers write.
Morahan, director of WAIMR's Centre for Diabetes Research, said the
marker would help the understanding of a number of human diseases,
including diabetes and cancer.
"The thymus is responsible for the creation of disease fighting T-
cells and finding this marker of stem cells which gives rise to this
organ presents enormous possibilities,
"For example, it may help scientists develop ways to help patients
whose immune systems are compromised. Also, we found the same marker
in the pancreas so it may define stem cells from which we can create
new insulin-producing islet cells for diabetes patients."
See Stem cells, tolerance and rebooting the thymus
http://www.biotechn
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The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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