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 types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Choristoma
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Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
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Forkhead Transcription Factors / physiology
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Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology
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Hepatitis B Antibodies / biosynthesis
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Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / immunology
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
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Immunocompetence
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Lymphopoiesis
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Nude
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Neck*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / analysis
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Self Tolerance
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Thymectomy
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Thymus Gland / anatomy & histology
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Thymus Gland / growth & development
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Thymus Gland / immunology*
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Thymus Gland / transplantation
Substances
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Forkhead Transcription Factors
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Hepatitis B Antibodies
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Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
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Whn protein