title: EphB-ephrin-B2 interactions are required for thymus migration during organogenesis.
abstract: Thymus organogenesis requires coordinated interactions of multiple cell types, including neural crest (NC) cells, to orchestrate the formation, separation, and subsequent migration of the developing thymus from the third pharyngeal pouch to the thoracic cavity. The molecular mechanisms driving these processes are unclear; however, NC-derived mesenchyme has been shown to play an important role. Here, we show that, in the absence of ephrin-B2 expression on thymic NC-derived mesenchyme, the thymus remains in the cervical area instead of migrating into the thoracic cavity. Analysis of individual NC-derived thymic mesenchymal cells shows that, in the absence of ephrin-B2, their motility is impaired as a result of defective EphB receptor signaling. This implies a NC-derived cell-specific role of EphB-ephrin-B2 interactions in the collective migration of the thymic rudiment during organogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Immunology, National Institute of Medical Research, London NW7 1AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Katie E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cardenas
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Veiga-Fernandes
authors.forename: Taija
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makinen
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grigorieva
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: C Clare
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Blackburn
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Richie
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Manley
authors.forename: Ralf H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kioussis
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Coles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D036388:Ephrin-B2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D038081:Organogenesis; D011485:Protein Binding; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000294:innervation
chemical_list: D036388:Ephrin-B2; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family