Thymus Inception: Molecular Network in the Early Stages of Thymus Organogenesis
The thymus generates central immune tolerance by producing self-restricted and self-tolerant T-cells as a result of interactions between the developing thymocytes and the stromal microenvironment, mainly formed by the thymic epithelial cells. The thymic epithelium derives from the endoderm of the ph...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/16/5765 |
| _version_ | 1797558886343901184 |
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| author | Marta Figueiredo Rita Zilhão Hélia Neves |
| author_facet | Marta Figueiredo Rita Zilhão Hélia Neves |
| author_sort | Marta Figueiredo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The thymus generates central immune tolerance by producing self-restricted and self-tolerant T-cells as a result of interactions between the developing thymocytes and the stromal microenvironment, mainly formed by the thymic epithelial cells. The thymic epithelium derives from the endoderm of the pharyngeal pouches, embryonic structures that rely on environmental cues from the surrounding mesenchyme for its development. Here, we review the most recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in early thymic organogenesis at stages preceding the expression of the transcription factor Foxn1, the early marker of thymic epithelial cells identity. Foxn1-independent developmental stages, such as the specification of the pharyngeal endoderm, patterning of the pouches, and thymus fate commitment are discussed, with a special focus on epithelial–mesenchymal interactions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:36:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-91d8aec3a2f84b2180f0452c53f732e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:36:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-91d8aec3a2f84b2180f0452c53f732e42023-11-20T09:49:15ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672020-08-012116576510.3390/ijms21165765Thymus Inception: Molecular Network in the Early Stages of Thymus OrganogenesisMarta Figueiredo0Rita Zilhão1Hélia Neves2Instituto de Histologia e Biologia do Desenvolvimento, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício Egas Moniz, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, PortugalDepartamento de Biologia Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1740-016 Lisboa, PortugalInstituto de Histologia e Biologia do Desenvolvimento, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício Egas Moniz, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, PortugalThe thymus generates central immune tolerance by producing self-restricted and self-tolerant T-cells as a result of interactions between the developing thymocytes and the stromal microenvironment, mainly formed by the thymic epithelial cells. The thymic epithelium derives from the endoderm of the pharyngeal pouches, embryonic structures that rely on environmental cues from the surrounding mesenchyme for its development. Here, we review the most recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in early thymic organogenesis at stages preceding the expression of the transcription factor Foxn1, the early marker of thymic epithelial cells identity. Foxn1-independent developmental stages, such as the specification of the pharyngeal endoderm, patterning of the pouches, and thymus fate commitment are discussed, with a special focus on epithelial–mesenchymal interactions.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/16/5765thymusT/PT common primordiumpharyngeal pouch endodermmesodermneural crestmolecular network |
| spellingShingle | Marta Figueiredo Rita Zilhão Hélia Neves Thymus Inception: Molecular Network in the Early Stages of Thymus Organogenesis International Journal of Molecular Sciences thymus T/PT common primordium pharyngeal pouch endoderm mesoderm neural crest molecular network |
| title | Thymus Inception: Molecular Network in the Early Stages of Thymus Organogenesis |
| title_full | Thymus Inception: Molecular Network in the Early Stages of Thymus Organogenesis |
| title_fullStr | Thymus Inception: Molecular Network in the Early Stages of Thymus Organogenesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thymus Inception: Molecular Network in the Early Stages of Thymus Organogenesis |
| title_short | Thymus Inception: Molecular Network in the Early Stages of Thymus Organogenesis |
| title_sort | thymus inception molecular network in the early stages of thymus organogenesis |
| topic | thymus T/PT common primordium pharyngeal pouch endoderm mesoderm neural crest molecular network |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/16/5765 |
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