Cervical thymus in the mouse

J Immunol. 2006 Jun 1;176(11):6484-90. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.176.11.6484.

Abstract

Although thymic ectopy has long been recognized in humans, the functional activity or potential immunological significance of this thymic tissue is unknown. In this study, we describe murine thymic ectopy, cervical thymic tissue that possesses the same general organization as the thoracic thymus, that is able to support T cell differentiation, and that can export T cells to the periphery. Unexpectedly, the pattern of autoantigen expression by ectopic thymic tissue differs from that of the thoracic thymus, raising the possibility that these two thymic environments may project different versions of self.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoantigens / biosynthesis
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Choristoma / epidemiology
  • Choristoma / immunology*
  • Choristoma / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neck*
  • Organ Specificity / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Thorax
  • Thymus Gland* / cytology
  • Thymus Gland* / immunology

Substances

  • Autoantigens