Expression of the membrane complement regulatory proteins (CD55 and CD59) in human thymus.

CD59 is one of the key molecules involved in cell protection against autologus complement. The fact that complement regulatory proteins are able to prevent hyperacute rejection of organs in pig to primate model, raises the question of possible complement regulatory protein (CRP) involvement in the maturation of immunological system. We report here that in foetal and postnatal human thymus, CD59 and CD55 are primarily located on Hassall's corpuscles and medullary epithelial cells. This localization highly correlates with the expression of CD30L, which is the member of the tumour necrosis factor superfamily. Additionally, TUNEL technique was used to visualize distribution of apoptotic cells in the thymus, which revealed the presence of apoptotic cells closely associated with the Hassall's corpuscles. The observed co-localization of CD59, CD55 and CD30L might suggest an involvement of the complement system in thymic selection in humans.