Serial progression of cortical and medullary thymic epithelial microenvironments

Nuno L. Alves, Yousuke Takahama, Izumi Ohigashi, Ana R. Ribeiro, Song Baik, Graham Anderson, William Jenkinson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

61 Citations (Scopus)
189 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) provide key instructive signals for T-cell differentiation. Thymic cortical (cTECs) and medullary (mTECs) epithelial cells constitute two functionally distinct microenvironments for T-cell development, which derive from a common bipotent TEC progenitor. While seminal studies have partially elucidated events downstream of bipotent TECs in relation to the emergence of mTECs and their progenitors, the control and timing of the emergence of the cTEC lineage, particularly in relation to that of mTEC progenitors, has remained elusive. In this review, we describe distinct models that explain cTEC/mTEC lineage divergence from common bipotent progenitors. In particular, we summarize recent studies in mice providing evidence that mTECs, including the auto-immune regulator+ subset, derive from progenitors initially endowed with phenotypic properties typically associated with the cTEC lineage. These observations support a novel “serial progression” model of TEC development, in which progenitors serially acquire cTEC lineage markers, prior to their commitment to the mTEC differentiation pathway. Gaining a better understanding of the phenotypic properties of early stages in TEC progenitor development should help in determining the mechanisms regulating cTEC/mTEC lineage development, and in strategies aimed at thymus reconstitution involving TEC therapy.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)16-22
JournalEuropean Journal of Immunology
Volume44
Issue number1
Early online date4 Dec 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2014

Keywords

  • Cortex
  • Medulla
  • Thymic epithelial cells
  • Thymus

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