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Evidence for a Functional Second Thymus in Mice

Authors: Terszowski, G.; Müller, S.; Bleul, C.; Blum, C.; Schirmbeck, R.; Reimann, J.; Du Pasquier, L.; +3 Authors

Evidence for a Functional Second Thymus in Mice

Abstract

The thymus organ supports the development of T cells and is located in the thorax. Here, we report the existence of a second thymus in the mouse neck, which develops after birth and grows to the size of a small lymph node. The cervical thymus had a typical medulla-cortex structure, was found to support T cell development, and could correct T cell deficiency in athymic nude mice upon transplantation. The identification of a regular second thymus in the mouse may provide evolutionary links to thymus organogenesis in other vertebrates and suggests a need to reconsider the effect of thoracic thymectomy on de novo T cell production.

Keywords

Mice, Inbred BALB C, Hepatitis B Surface Antigens, Lymphopoiesis, T-Lymphocytes, Histocompatibility Antigens Class II, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, Mice, Nude, Forkhead Transcription Factors, Thymus Gland, Choristoma, Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Thymectomy, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Self Tolerance, Animals, Newborn, Animals, Hepatitis B Antibodies, Immunocompetence, Neck

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Powered by OpenAIRE graph
citations
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
141
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 1%