Radioresistant intrathymic stem cells: retrospective analysis and concept of the role in thymic oncogenesis and post-irradiation regeneration. (PubMed, Front Immunol)
Unique features of THGF-driven proliferation of these cells include a colchicine-resistant DNA synthesis and, presumably, the formation of a "daughter" cell pool within "mother" cell-like structures, as well as the formation of colony-cluster-like structures, which are presumably composed mainly of single activated mother DN1 and surrounding daughter TLPs progressing from DN2 to DN4 stage...The presented analysis proposes the concept of intrathymic dormant stem cells, which become activated under extreme conditions, and insights into parallels between THGF-responsive cells and other radioresistant thymic populations, suggesting an integrated network of stromal and lymphoid elements that orchestrate thymic regeneration. Together, this review proposes a model in which THGF acts as a critical regulator of dormant intrathymic stem cells, enabling their activation, protected proliferation, and differentiation, and thereby contributing crucially to the lymphoid lineage of thymic regeneration after irradiation, in addition to the concept of the IL-22-dependent pathway of stromal-epithelial regeneration of intrathymic niches microenvironment.