Within the thymus, two major thymic epithelial cell (TEC) subsets-cortical and medullary TECs-provide unique structural and functional niches for T cell development and establishment of central tolerance. Both lineages are believed to originate from a common progenitor cell, yet the cellular and molecular identity of these bipotent TEC progenitors/stem cells remains ill defined. Here we identify rare stromal cells in the murine adult thymus, which under low-attachment conditions formed spheres (termed "thymospheres"). These thymosphere-forming cells (TSFCs) displayed the stemness features of being slow cycling, self-renewing, and bipotent. TSFCs could be significantly enriched based on their distinct surface antigen phenotype. The FoxN1 transcription factor was dispensable for TSFCs maintenance in situ and for commitment to the medullary and cortical TEC lineages. In summary, this study presents the characterization of the adult thymic epithelial stem cells and demonstrates the dispensability of FoxN1 function for their stemness.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4148705 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2014.07.005 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Prognostic Impact of Primary Tumor Size in Thymic Epithelial Tumor: An NCDB-Based Study.
Ann Surg Oncol
December 2024
Division of Hematology Oncology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
Background: Thymic epithelial tumor (TET) staging has been based on Masaoka-Koga systems or the 8th edition of the TNM classification, which do not use tumor size as a T descriptor. The 9th edition of the TNM classification incorporates tumor size; however, the study on which this classification is based included only 4.4% of patients from North America.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe clinical significance of open vs. minimally invasive surgical approaches in the management of thymic epithelial tumors and myasthenia gravis.
Front Surg
December 2024
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, United States.
Though advancements have been made in the pharmacologic treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG), surgical resection is not only an option as a last line of defense for those patients who do not respond to medical therapy but also remains vital for those with thymic epithelial tumors (TET). While prior studies have shown the potential superiority of minimally invasive approaches via robotic- and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS/VATS) for thymectomy compared to open surgery, in the setting of malignancies, this outcome delineation is controversial. As RATS/VATS may be associated with less post-operative complications in the treatment of TET, some surgeons argue that the open approach is necessary for complete resection (R0 resection) and to prevent potential seeding of the malignancy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSNAI1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and maintains cancer stem cell-like properties in thymic epithelial tumors through the PIK3R2/p-EphA2 Axis.
J Exp Clin Cancer Res
December 2024
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200443, China.
Background: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are infrequent malignancies that arise from the anterior mediastinum. Therapeutic options for TETs, especially thymic carcinoma (TC), remain relatively constrained. This study aims to investigate the oncogenic hub gene and its underlying mechanisms in TETs, as well as to identify potential therapeutic targets.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRole of Podoplanin (PDPN) in Advancing the Progression and Metastasis of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM).
Cancers (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Surgery, NYC Health and Hospitals, Elmhurst Hospital Center, New York, NY 11373, USA.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a malignant primary brain tumor categorized as a Grade 4 astrocytic glioma by the World Health Organization (WHO). Some of the established risk factors of GBM include inherited genetic syndromes, body mass index, alcohol consumption, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and therapeutic ionizing radiation. Vascular anomalies, including local and peripheral thrombosis, are common features of GBM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuropsin, TRPV4 and intracellular calcium mediate intrinsic photosensitivity in corneal epithelial cells.
Ocul Surf
December 2024
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Electronic address:
Purpose: To investigate intrinsic phototransduction in the corneal epithelium and its role in intracellular and inflammatory signaling.
Methods: Optical imaging in isolated corneal epithelial cells (CECs) and debrided epithelia was combined with molecular, biochemical, pharmacological assays and gene deletion studies to track UVB-induced calcium signaling and release of cytokines, chemokines and matrix remodeling enzymes. Results from wild type mouse CECs were compared to data obtained from Opn5 and Trpv4 cells.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!