title: Transdifferentiation of parathyroid cells into cervical thymi promotes atypical T-cell development.
abstract: The thoracic thymus is the primary vertebrate organ for T-cell generation. Accessory cervical thymi have also been identified in humans and mice, and shown in mice to be independent functional organs that support T-cell development. However, their origin and functional significance remain unclear. Here we show that cervical thymi in mice have following two origins: delayed differentiation of endodermal precursors and transdifferentiation of parathyroid-fated cells. Compared with thoracic thymus, parathyroid-origin cervical thymi (pCT) express low levels of the thymic epithelial cell-specific transcription factor FOXN1. Consequently, pCT form a distinct microenvironment that supports an atypical thymocyte development pathway, generating T cells with unconventional phenotypic characteristics. Our data demonstrate a transdifferentiation origin for a subset of cervical thymi, with specific functional consequences for T-cell development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA [2].
authors.forename: Zhijie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Shiyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Manley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins