In situ localization of CD45 isoforms in the human thymus indicates a medullary location for the thymic generative lineage.

Previous work has suggested that the generative lineage within the human thymus can be defined by the selective expression of CD45 isoforms and is CD45RO- and predominantly CD45RA+. In order to physically localize these cells we have stained frozen sections of human thymus with antibodies to CD45RO (p180), and CD45RA (p205/P220), as well as with CD1 and HLA class I to define cortical and medullary areas, respectively. In the cortex, 70 to 90% of thymocytes were CD45RO+, whereas only 0.5% expressed CD45RA. Medullary cells were 30% CD45RO+, 29% CD45RA+; approximately 40% did not express detectable levels of either isoform but did express CD45 common determinants. To assess the degree of proliferation of cells expressing CD45 isoforms, we stained adjacent sections, or used double staining, with Ki67, an antibody that detects a nuclear Ag on proliferating cells. We found that CD45RA+ thymocytes are predominantly a resting medullary population with a small component in cell cycle, consistent with our analysis of human thymocytes by immunofluorescence, and with data in murine systems defining the generative lineage. To confirm that the CD1- or low, CD45RO-CD45RA+ thymocytes defined by immunofluorescence analysis were likely to have a medullary location, we analyzed the CD4/CD8 subset distribution of CD1-cells. From 80 to 90% of CD1-thymocytes are CD4+ or CD8+ single positives or CD-8- double negatives. CD1-thymocytes also include 12 to 14% CD4+8+ cells with a probable medullary location. A similar analysis of lymphocytes expressing a high density of HLA class I, which have a medullary location, confirmed the existence of CD4+8+ thymocytes in the medulla. Purified CD3-4-8- cells, previously shown to be CD1-CD45RA+, were also shown to bear a high density of HLA class I, indicating a medullary location. Correlative localization of a panel of Ag thus supports the argument for a medullary location of the thymic generative lineage.