Formation of a mature thymic epithelial microenvironment is an essential prerequisite for the generation of a functionally competent T cell pool. It is likely that recently identified thymic epithelial precursors undergo phases of proliferation and differentiation to generate mature cortical and medullary thymic microenvironments. The mechanisms regulating development of immature thymic epithel...

Mice deficient for fibroblast growth factor (Fgf)R2-IIIb show a block in thymic growth after embryonic day 12.5, a stage that just precedes its detection in thymic epithelial cells. Fgf7 and Fgf10, the main ligands for FgfR2-IIIb, are expressed in the mesenchyme surrounding the thymic epithelial primordium, and Fgf10-deficient mice also exhibit impaired thymic growth. Hence, Fgf signaling is es...

The thymus provides a specialised microenvironment for the development of T-cell precursors. This developmental programme depends upon interactions with stromal cells such as thymic epithelial cells, which provide signals for proliferation, survival and differentiation. In turn, it has been proposed that development of thymic epithelial cells themselves is regulated by signals produced by devel...

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (EpCAM) is an epithelial membrane glycoprotein, often used as a surrogate pan-epithelial marker. To compare the expression patterns of EpCAM and pankeratin antibody (CKpan), gold standard detection, tissue microarrays containing 11,053 samples from 101 different tumor types were analysed by immunohistochemistry. staining was detectable in 99 (82.5%) 120 tumou...

Thymocytes depend on the interaction with thymic epithelial cells for the generation of a diverse, nonautoreactive T cell repertoire. In turn, thymic epithelial cells acquire their three-dimensional cellular organization via instructive signals from developing thymocytes. The nature of these signals has been elusive so far. We show that thymocytes and medullary epithelial cells (MECs) communica...

The purpose of this study was to systemically review the available literature regarding the diagnostic performance of positron emission tomography (PET) using 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) in patients with thymic epithelial tumors. We reviewed 13 studies that evaluated the diagnostic role of thymic epithelial tumors with [18F]FDG-PET. [18F]FDG-PET is a useful radiological modality ...

A previous study of 70 cases of thymoma described in 1966 by the author1 reported that definite germinal centers were found in the normal thymic tissue attached to one case of thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis, and that this was very interesting from the point of view of whether thymoma or thymic germinal center was a more important occurrence of a myasthenic condition. Since then routi...