{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,20]],"date-time":"2026-09-20T13:47:54Z","timestamp":1789912074629,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":62,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2012,12,5]],"date-time":"2012-12-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1354665600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Developmental Dynamics"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2013,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:p><jats:styled-content>Background:<\/jats:styled-content> Although <jats:italic>Xenopus laevis<\/jats:italic> has been a model of choice for comparative and developmental studies of the immune system, little is known about organogenesis of the thymus, a primary lymphoid organ in vertebrates. Here we examined the expression of three transcription factors that have been functionally associated with pharyngeal gland development, <jats:italic>gcm2, hoxa3<\/jats:italic>, and <jats:italic>foxn1<\/jats:italic>, and evaluated the neural crest contribution to thymus development. <jats:styled-content>Results:<\/jats:styled-content> In most species <jats:italic>Hoxa3<\/jats:italic> is expressed in the third pharyngeal pouch endoderm where it directs thymus formation. In <jats:italic>Xenopus<\/jats:italic>, the thymus primordium is derived from the second pharyngeal pouch endoderm, which is <jats:italic>hoxa3<\/jats:italic>\u2010negative, suggesting that a different mechanism regulates thymus formation in frogs. Unlike other species <jats:italic>foxn1<\/jats:italic> is not detected in the epithelium of the pharyngeal pouch in <jats:italic>Xenopus<\/jats:italic>, rather, its expression is initiated as thymic epithelial cell starts to differentiate and express MHC class II molecules. Using transplantation experiments we show that while neural crest cells populate the thymus primordia, they are not required for the specification and initial development of this organ or for T\u2010cell differentiation in frogs. <jats:styled-content>Conclusions:<\/jats:styled-content> These studies provide novel information on early thymus development in <jats:italic>Xenopus<\/jats:italic>, and highlight a number of features that distinguish <jats:italic>Xenopus<\/jats:italic> from other organisms. Developmental Dynamics, 2012. \u00a9 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/dvdy.23905","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2012,11,21]],"date-time":"2012-11-21T13:04:51Z","timestamp":1353503091000},"page":"164-178","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":21,"title":["Early development of the thymus in <i>Xenopus laevis<\/i>"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"242","author":[{"given":"Young\u2010Hoon","family":"Lee","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Oral Anatomy School of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Biosciences Chonbuk National University Jeonju Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Allison","family":"Williams","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Biology School of Veterinary Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chang\u2010Soo","family":"Hong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biological Sciences College of Natural Sciences Daegu University Gyeongsan Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Youngjae","family":"You","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Oral Anatomy School of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Biosciences Chonbuk National University Jeonju Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Makoto","family":"Senoo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Biology School of Veterinary Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jean\u2010Pierre","family":"Saint\u2010Jeannet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Biology School of Veterinary Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania"},{"name":"Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology College of Dentistry New York University New York New York"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2012,12,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_6_2_1","first-page":"278","article-title":"Developing a new paradigm for thymus organogenesis","volume":"4","author":"Blackburn CC","year":"2004","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.93.12.5742"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.6606851"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1005129107"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00343880"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/dvdy.21364"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1155\/1990\/67913"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/eji.1830031207"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.iy.07.040189.001343"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.180.5.3183"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dci.2012.01.002"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1242\/dev.059998"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0925-4773(01)00333-1"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/ni1064"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3100","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.151.6.3100","article-title":"Characterization and expression of recombination activating genes (RAG\u20101 and RAG\u20102) in Xenopus laevis","volume":"151","author":"Greenhalgh P","year":"1993","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.semcdb.2010.01.022"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ydbio.2011.02.012"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ydbio.2008.12.019"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/35018111"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0091-679X(08)60307-6"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1242\/dev.122.3.1007"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ydbio.2004.09.018"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0105-2896.2006.00357.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/353861a0"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/intimm\/dxm060"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1242\/dev.127.8.1607"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1101\/gad.14.2.142"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.95.21.12364"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_30_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.169.6.2842"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_31_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.142.1.17"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1242\/dev.061614"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_33_1","first-page":"125","article-title":"Mesenchymal derivatives of the neural crest. Analysis of chimaeric quail and chick embryos","volume":"34","author":"Le Lievre CS","year":"1975","journal-title":"J Embryol Exp Morphol"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ydbio.2007.02.014"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_35_1","first-page":"265","article-title":"Histogenesis of lymphoid organs in larvae of the South African clawed toad, Xenopus laevis (Daudin)","volume":"22","author":"Manning MJ","year":"1969","journal-title":"J Embryol Exp Morph"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1242\/dev.121.7.1989"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_37_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1006\/dbio.1997.8827"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S1877-1173(10)92005-X"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_39_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1242\/dev.01872"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_40_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(61)90693-6"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_41_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.180.8.5344"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_42_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/372103a0"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.272.5263.886"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_44_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/dvg.20686"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_45_1","first-page":"208","article-title":"Modulation of Bmp4 signalling in the epithelial\u2010mesenchymal interactions that take place in early thymus and parathyroid development in avian embryos","volume":"316","author":"Neves H","year":"2011","journal-title":"Dev Biol"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_46_1","volume-title":"Normal table of Xenopus laevis (Daudin)","author":"Nieuwkoop PD","year":"1967"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_47_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.0406116101"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_48_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1242\/dev.127.24.5367"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_49_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.167.4.1954"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_50_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0145-305X(98)00028-7"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_51_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dci.2011.01.014"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_52_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/dvdy.21891"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_53_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.immunol.26.021607.090408"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_54_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"895","DOI":"10.1242\/dev.122.3.895","article-title":"Rhombomere origin determines autonomous versus environmentally regulated expression of Hoxa\u20103 in the avian embryo","volume":"122","author":"Saldivar JR","year":"1996","journal-title":"Development"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_55_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-genet-110410-132552"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_56_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s002510050312"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_57_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0925-4773(02)00241-1"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_58_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cell.2007.02.045"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_59_1","first-page":"39","article-title":"The topography and histology of the parathyroid glandules in Xenopus laevis","volume":"68","author":"Shapiro BG","year":"1933","journal-title":"J Anat"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_60_1","first-page":"283","article-title":"An interaction between dorsal and ventral regions of the marginal zone in early amphibian embryos","volume":"56","author":"Slack JM","year":"1980","journal-title":"J Embryol Exp Morphol"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_61_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jemt.1070320203"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_62_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.191.6.1051"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_63_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/bies.20484"}],"container-title":["Developmental Dynamics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/api.wiley.com\/onlinelibrary\/tdm\/v1\/articles\/10.1002%2Fdvdy.23905","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/dvdy.23905","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,13]],"date-time":"2025-10-13T18:28:28Z","timestamp":1760380108000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/dvdy.23905"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2012,12,5]]},"references-count":62,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2013,2]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1002\/dvdy.23905"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/dvdy.23905","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["1058-8388","1097-0177"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1058-8388","type":"print"},{"value":"1097-0177","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2012,12,5]]}}}