Capability of antigen presentation by mouse thymic stromal cells

Objective To study the capability of antigen presentation by mouse thymic stromal cells. Methods The mouse thymic stromal cells were cultured to present chicken ovalbumin (OVA) to OVA specific I-A^d restricted helper T cell line 3DO. 18.3. The potency of antigen presentation activity was determined by the level of IL-2 produced by 3DO. 18.3 T cells. Results Without IFN-γ, neither MTEC1 nor MTSC4 was able to present OVA to 3DO. 18.3 cells. While in the presence of IFN-γ, the expression of I-A^d and B7-1 molecules on MTSC4 cells were markedly increased, whereas on MTEC1, only I-A^d, but not B7-1, was increased. Preincubation with IFN-γ, both MTEC1 and MTSC4 could process and present OVA peptides, and activate antigen specific 3DO. 18.3 T_H1 cells which could then produce IL-2. Comparing with low capability of MTEC1, however, MTSC4 exhibited moderate level of antigen presentation activity. Conclusions The expression level of I-A^d and B7-1 molecules was correlated to the capability of antigen presentation by MTSC4 cell line. The distinct types of TSC have different capability of antigen presentation.