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.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- April 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1123497
- Bibcode:
- 2006Sci...312..284T
- Keywords:
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- IMMUNOLOGY