Title |
Nasopharyngeal Tonsils (Adenoids) Contain Extrathymic Corticothymocytes
|
---|---|
Published in |
PLOS ONE, May 2014
|
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0098222 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Serena Buscone, Werner Garavello, Fabio Pagni, Renato Maria Gaini, Giorgio Cattoretti |
Abstract |
Adenoidal tissue (also known as nasopharyngeal tonsils) of 58% of humans in the pediatric age group contains immature T-lymphoid cells with the phenotype of thymocytes (TdT+,CD1abc+, cytoplasmic CD3+, coexpressing CD4 and CD8, lacking an Intraepithelial Lymphocyte-associated phenotype). The notable difference in comparison to palatine tonsils is the clustering in groups and sheets, comprising hundreds or thousands of cells (1.7%±0.2 of total T cells). The thymic epithelium is morphologically and phenotypically absent. Adenoids share with tonsils and lymph nodes the presence of immature B cell precursors (TdT+, CD1a-, Pax5+, Surrogate light chain±), however in these latter the presence of TdT+, CD1a+, Pax5- precursors is absent or limited to individual cells. Human adenoids are distinct among the Waldeyer's ring lymphoid tissue because of the known embryogenic derivation from the third pharyngeal pouch, from which the thymus develops; in addition, they may display phenotypic incomplete features of a vestigial thymus. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Italy | 1 | 50% |
Unknown | 1 | 50% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 2 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 20 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Postgraduate | 3 | 15% |
Student > Bachelor | 3 | 15% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 2 | 10% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 1 | 5% |
Professor | 1 | 5% |
Other | 5 | 25% |
Unknown | 5 | 25% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 10 | 50% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 2 | 10% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 1 | 5% |
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 1 | 5% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 1 | 5% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 5 | 25% |