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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Preparation and Applications of Organotypic Thymic Slice Cultures
Published on: August 6, 2016
Thymic microenvironments for T cell differentiation and selection
Ena Ladi1, Xinye Yin, Tatyana Chtanova
1Division of Immunology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Abstract:
The adult thymus provides a variety of specialized microenvironments that support and direct T cell differentiation and selection. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the understanding of the function of microenvironments in shaping a diverse T cell repertoire. In particular, we focus on how thymocytes move in and out of these specialized thymic compartments in response to homing signals, differential chemokine gradients and other factors that regulate T cell migration. In addition, we discuss the diverse developmental signals provided by these microenvironments that contribute to the generation of divergent T cell lineages.
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