Preliminary Evaluation of Elasmobranch Large Thymic Cells: Possible Phylogenetic Equivalents to Mammalian Thymic Nurse Cells

该提案旨在为表征软骨鱼胸腺功能的长期目标提供有价值的初步数据，软骨鱼是拥有独特胸腺的最原始的有颌脊椎动物群体。这项工作的重点是初步表征可能的系统发育等效的特化细胞鉴定在哺乳动物胸腺作为胸腺护理细胞。胸腺护理细胞被怀疑在胸腺间t细胞成熟和/或去除无功能或自我反应的胸腺细胞中起作用。研究计划拨款将用于制定一个完整的研究计划，以表征板壁支胸腺细胞的功能作用和进化意义。这个项目将研究胸腺的进化和胸腺内细胞的相互关系。它将为解释细胞如何在生物体体内获得不同功能提供证据。＊＊＊

MCB 9509105 Catherine Walsh This proposal is designed to provide valuable preliminary data contributing to the long-term goal of characterizing thymic function in cartilaginous fish, the most primitive groups of jawed vertebrates to possess a distinct thymus. The work focuses on the preliminary characterization of possible phylogenetic equivalents of specialized cells identified in mammalian thymi as thymic nurse cells. The thymic nurse cells are suspected to have roles in interthymic T-cell maturation and/or removal of nonfunctional or self reactive thymocytes. The research planning grant will be used to develop a full research proposal to characterize the functional role and evolutionary significance of elasmobranch thymic cells. %%% This project will investigate the evolution of the thymus and the interrelation of cells in the thymus. It will provide evidence to explain how cells acquire different functions in the body of an organism. ***