biostudies-literatureUnknown209(8)Peaudecerf LThymus transplants can correct deficiencies of the thymus epithelium caused by the complete DiGeorge syndrome or FOXN1 mutations. However, thymus transplants were never used to correct T cell-intrinsic deficiencies because it is generally believed that thymocytes have short intrinsic lifespans. This notion is based on thymus transplantation experiments where it was shown that thymus-resident cells were rapidly replaced by progenitors originating in the bone marrow. In contrast, here we show that neonatal thymi transplanted into interleukin 7 receptor-deficient hosts harbor populations with extensive capacity to self-renew, and maintain continuous thymocyte generation and export. These thymus transplants reconstitute the full diversity of peripheral T cell repertoires one month after surgerThe Journal of experimental medicine1401-8https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3420331biostudies-literatureThymocytes may persist and differentiate without any input from bone marrow progenitors.PMC3420331Vasseur FDi Santo JPPeaudecerf LGalgano AEzine SKrenn GLemos SRocha BfalseThymocytes may persist and differentiate without any input from bone marrow progenitors.Thymus transplants can correct deficiencies of the thymus epithelium caused by the complete DiGeorge syndrome or FOXN1 mutations. However, thymus transplants were never used to correct T cell-intrinsic deficiencies because it is generally believed that thymocytes have short intrinsic lifespans. This notion is based on thymus transplantation experiments where it was shown that thymus-resident cells were rapidly replaced by progenitors originating in the bone marrow. In contrast, here we show that neonatal thymi transplanted into interleukin 7 receptor-deficient hosts harbor populations with extensive capacity to self-renew, and maintain continuous thymocyte generation and export. These thymus transplants reconstitute the full diversity of peripheral T cell repertoires one month after surger2012-01-01T00:00:00Z2012 Jul2025-04-05T13:04:34.439Z2019-03-27T00:56:49ZS-EPMC34203312277838810.1084/jem.20120845