Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
09:41
Preparation of Single-Cell Suspension of Mouse Thymic Epithelial Cells and Staining of Intracellular Molecules for Flow Cytometric Analysis
Published on: July 26, 2024
Ly6d expression delineates two putative postnatal thymus epithelial progenitor cells that are differentially affected
Irene Calvo-Asensio1, Andreas Tarcevski2,3, Fatima Dhalla2,3
1Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
Science Advances
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Researchers identified distinct thymic epithelial progenitor cell (TEPC) subpopulations using lineage tracing. Aging impacts these TEPCs differently, suggesting new avenues for enhancing thymic function.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The identity and maintenance of postnatal thymic epithelial progenitor cells (TEPCs) are not well understood.
- It remains unclear if bipotent TEPCs persist post-birth or if lineage-restricted progenitors maintain separate thymic epithelial cell (TEC) compartments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the early dynamics of TEPC-progeny relationships.
- To identify distinct TEPC subpopulations and their maintenance mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an inducible lineage-tracing system based on β5t expression.
- Analyzed progenitor subpopulations distinguished by Ly6d expression.
Main Results:
- Identified two potential lineage-biased progenitor subpopulations based on Ly6d expression.
- Observed that aging disproportionately affects Ly6d-negative TEPCs compared to Ly6d-positive TEPCs.
Conclusions:
- Provides insights into TEC lineage developmental pathways and maintenance.
- Suggests implications for rejuvenating aging thymic epithelia and enhancing thymic function in aging and disease.
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