title: Immunology: the origin of sweetbreads in lampreys?
abstract: The thymus is required for the differentiation of T lymphocytes. A new study in lampreys indicates that the pharyngeal epithelium of the gill basket supports the development of T-like cells, suggesting the existence of a primitive thymus in these oldest of vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. mflajnik@som.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flajnik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001934:Branchial Region / Q000166:cytology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology*; D007798:Lampreys / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology*