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PubMed · 9950749

The human thymic microenvironment: new approaches to functional analysis.

M A Ritter·D B Palmer
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Abstract

Although immunohistological techniques have revealed molecular niches within the human thymic microenvironment, functional analysis is limited by the assay systems available. However, our recent studies using antibody phage display have revealed a high degree of molecular conservation between the microenvironmental molecules of different species. We have therefore isolated single-chain antibodies specific for evolutionarily conserved epitopes, shared by human and mouse, and used these in murine thymic functional assays. The detection of such shared human/rodent molecules makes it possible to functionally 'walk' from mouse to man, providing us with an experimental approach to functional analysis of the human thymus.

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AnimalsAntibodiesCell CommunicationEpitopesEvolution, MolecularHumansImmunophenotypingMiceStromal CellsT-LymphocytesThymus GlandJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tReview

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BibTeXRIS

M A Ritter, D B Palmer. 1999. The human thymic microenvironment: new approaches to functional analysis.. https://doi.org/10.1006/smim.1998.0148

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