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Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, Vol. 47, 237-244, February 1999, Copyright © 1999, The Histochemical Society, Inc.

ARTICLE

Detection of Synaptophysin-producing Cells in Human Thymus by Immunohistochemistry and Nonradioactive In Situ Hybridization

Nicola Maggianoa, Libero Lauriolaa, Fabio G. Serraa, Riccardo Riccia, Arnaldo Capellia, and Franco O. Ranellettib
a Institutes of Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
b Histology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy

Correspondence to: Franco O. Ranelletti, Istituto di Istologia ed Embriologia, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Roma, Italy

We investigated human thymic tissue by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for the presence of synaptophysin-producing cells. Our results indicate that anti-synaptophysin antibody detected immunoreactive material in nerve fibers around vessels located in major thymic septa, in a relevant number of cortical epithelial cells, and in scattered epithelial cells in the medulla. The epithelial nature of synaptophysin-positive cells was documented by the co-expression of cytokeratins as revealed by double immunofluorescence. In situ hybridization studies revealed the presence of synaptophysin mRNA in cells mainly located in the cortex, the specific fluorescent signals being localized in the cell cytoplasm. Western blot analysis using an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody revealed an immunoreactive band of about 38 kD in the extracts from unfractionated thymic tissue and from epithelial cell-enriched fractions. No staining was observed in isolated thymocytes. The expression of synaptophysin in epithelial cells of the thymic cortex suggests that this protein may be involved in secretory activities related to T-cell maturation. (J Histochem Cytochem 47:237–243, 1999)

Key Words: synaptophysin, human thymus, neuroendocrine cells


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