Advanced three-dimensional X-ray imaging unravels structural development of the human thymus compartments.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The thymus, responsible for T cell-mediated adaptive immune system, has a structural and functional complexity that is not yet fully understood. Until now, thymic anatomy has been studied using histological thin sections or confocal microscopy 3D reconstruction, necessarily for limited volumes.

Methods

We used Phase Contrast X-Ray Computed Tomography to address the lack of whole-organ volumetric information on the microarchitecture of its structural components. We scanned 15 human thymi (9 foetal and 6 postnatal) with synchrotron radiation, and repeated scans using a conventional laboratory x-ray system. We used histology, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry to validate the x-ray findings.

Results

Application to human thymi at pre- and post-natal stages a

SUBMITTER: Savvidis S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11496816 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature