Identification of human and rodent thymic epithelium using tetanus toxin and monoclonal antibody A2B5.

Plain Language Summary

Using monoclonal antibody A2B5 (binding GQ ganglioside) and tetanus toxin (binding GD and GT gangliosides), this study identified distinct thymic epithelial cell regions in human and rodent thymus. The binding cells formed a network throughout the subcapsular cortex and medulla, and these epithelial cells contained both thymopoietin and thymosin alpha-1. Lymphoid elements did not bind either marker, providing tools for studying the distribution of thymic hormone-producing cells.