Single-cell immune profiling reveals thymus-seeding populations, T cell commitment, and multilineage development in the human thymus

Sci Immunol. 2022 Nov 18;7(77):eade0182. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ade0182. Epub 2022 Nov 11.

Abstract

T cell development in the mouse thymus has been studied extensively, but less is known regarding T cell development in the human thymus. We used a combination of single-cell techniques and functional assays to perform deep immune profiling of human T cell development, focusing on the initial stages of prelineage commitment. We identified three thymus-seeding progenitor populations that also have counterparts in the bone marrow. In addition, we found that the human thymus physiologically supports the development of monocytes, dendritic cells, and NK cells, as well as limited development of B cells. These results are an important step toward monitoring and guiding regenerative therapies in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells*
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural
  • Mice
  • T-Lymphocytes*
  • Thymus Gland