Reduced expression of Ia antigens by thymic epithelial cells of aged mice.

Thymic Ia antigen expression was examined with biochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. We found that expression of Ia antigens was reduced in thymic tissue of aged mice and that much of this loss was associated with cortical thymic epithelial cells. The ontologic pattern of Ia antigen expression in the thymus closely followed that observed for thymic weight, reaching maximal values at 4 wk of age and declining thereafter.