Cell selection in the thymus of mice treated with escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Abstract

The present data indicate that injection of LPS induces a decrease in thymus weight with selection of thymocytes more efficient in killer and helper activities. It has been reported (12) that two T-cell types may cooperate in the GVH reaction: the effector T1 and the amplifier T2. The maturation from T1 to T2 occurs mainly in the periphery, whereas immature cortex thymocytes differentiate to T1 within the thymus (13). Our results, showing an LPS-dependent enhancement of thymocyte killing activity, suggest that LPS selects thymocytes mostly of the T1 type. LPS-treated thymocytes are more efficient in the reconstitution of the anti-SRBC response. These data can be explained considering that LPS, like cortisone (14), enriches the thymus with more immunocompetent helper cells. Alternatively it may be suggested that LPS selects in the thymus cell populations characterized by high proliferative activity. Unpublished observations showing that LPS-treatment in vivo increases the in vitro response of thymocytes to Con-A are consistent with this interpretation.