The Fate of Thymocytes Labeledin Vivowith CFSE

• Published in: Experimental cell research Vol. 240; no. 1; pp. 75 - 85
• Main Authors: Graziano, Monica, St-Pierre, Yves, Beauchemin, Claire, Desrosiers, Marcel, Potworowski, Edouard F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 10-04-1998
• ISSN: 0014-4827; 1090-2422
• DOI: 10.1006/excr.1997.3900

The fate of thymic emigrants had so far been studied using a variety of markers, each of which had inherent limitations as to stability, toxicity, or selectivity. We describe a new technique which relies on thein vivoinjection of CFSE, an esterified vital dye hitherto used at 80 times lower concentrations forin vitrocell labeling. We show that CFSE labels a representative sample of all thymocyte subsets and that these migrate at a rate of approximately 2–3 × 106cells/day to peripheral lymphoid organs. We show that they enter lymph nodes at day 1 postinjection and stay for at least 21 days, whereas the turnover in the spleen is more rapid. We also show by immunohistochemistry, using peroxidase-labeled anti-FITC antibodies, that CFSE-labeled thymic emigrants are confined to T-dependent areas of peripheral lymphoid organs.