REVIEW

Cell Research (2007): 50-55
© 2007 IBCB, SIBS, CAS All rights reserved 1001-0602/06 $ 30.00
www.nature.com/cr

Thymic epithelial progenitor cells and thymus regeneration: an update

Lianjun Zhang^1,2, Liguang Sun^1,3, Yong Zhao¹

Correspondence: Yong Zhao Tel: +86-10-62538391; Fax: +86-10-62659958 E-mail: zhaoy@ioz.ac.cn

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The thymus provides the essential microenvironment for T-cell development and maturation. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs), which are composed of thymic cortical epithelial cells (cTECs) and thymic medullary epithelial cells (mTECs), have been well documented to be critical for these tightly regulated processes. It has long been controversial whether the common progenitor cells of TECs could give rise to both cTECs and mTECs. Great progress has been made to characterize the common TEC progenitor cells in recent years. We herein discuss the sole origin paradigm with regard to TEC differentiation as well as these progenitor cells in thymus regeneration.

Cell Research (2007) 17:50-55. doi:10.1038/sj.cr.7310114; published online 5 December 2007

Keywords: thymic epithelial progenitor cells, thymus organogenesis, thymus regeneration