• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2015

Germline mutations in the breast cancer type 2 susceptibility gene (BRCA2) are linked to familial breast cancer and the progressive bone marrow failure syndrome Fanconi anaemia. Established Brca2 mouse knockout models show embryonic lethality, but those with a truncating mutation at the C-terminus survive to birth and develop thymic lymphoma at an early age. To overcome early lethality and investigate the function of BRCA2, we used T cell-specific conditional Brca2 knockout mice, which were previously shown to develop thymic lymphoma at a low penetrance. In the current study we showed that the number of peripheral T cells, particularly na$\ddot{i}$ve pools, drastically declined with age. This decline was primarily ascribed to improper peripheral maintenance. Furthermore, heterozygous mice with one wild-type Brca2 allele manifested reduced T cell numbers, suggesting that Brca2 haploinsufficiency might also result in T cell loss. Our study reveals molecular events occurring in Brca2-deficient T cells and suggests that both heterozygous and homozygous Brca2 mutation may lead to dysfunction in T cell populations.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2009

Centrobin/Nip2 was initially identified as a centrosome protein that is critical for centrosome duplication and spindle assembly. In the present study, we determined the expression and subcellular localization of centrobin in selected mouse tissues. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the centrobin-specific band of 100 kDa was detected in all tissues tested but most abundantly in the thymus, spleen and testis. In the testis, centrobin was localized at the centrosomes of spermatocytes and early round spermatids, but no specific signal was detected in late round spermatids and elongated spermatids. Our results also revealed that the centrosome duplication occurs at interphase of the second meiotic division of the mouse male germ cells. The centrobin protein was more abundant in the mitotically active ovarian follicular cells and thymic cortex cells than in non-proliferating corpus luteal cells and thymic medullary cells. The expression pattern of centrobin suggests that the biological functions of centrobin are related to cell proliferation. Consistent with the proposal, we observed reduction of the centrobin levels when NIH3T3 became quiescent in the serum-starved culture conditions. However, a residual amount of centrobin was also detected at the centrosomes of the resting cells, suggesting its role for maintaining integrity of the centrosome, especially of the daughter centriole in the cells.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.68-70
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• 2013

Thymoma is the most common anterior mediastinal mass in adult, and arises from thymic epithelial cells which includes consists various proportions of epithelial and lymphocytic aspect. Thymic epithelial cell arises from the ventral wings of the third and fourth branchial pouches in the embryo, and these cells are considered tumorous condition of thymoma. Surgical resection is main treatment of thymoma. And adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation is considered due to postoperative pathologic diagnosis. We experienced a tumor which located from left anterior neck along superior mediastinum on chest radiograph incidentally and diagnosed parathyroid adenoma clinically. After surgical removal, final pathologic report was thymoma. Here, we present the case with a review of the related literatures.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1112-1118
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• 1999

Galectin-3 plays an important role in cell development, differentiation and cancer metastasis, including cell-cell/extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions and is supposed to have an effect of apoptosis on T-cells in thymic clonal selection. In this study, to know the effect of galectin-3 on thymocyte development, we used recombinant human galectin-3 (rHgal-3) from Escherichia coli, JM105, which was inserted with human gal-3 gene-transformed plasmid vector (prGal-3) to express human galectin-3. Expressed rHgal-3 was confirmed by western blot using the culture supernant of hybridoma (M3/38) producing monoclonal antibody to human galectin-3. Sepharose gel affinity chromatography was used to purify the expressed rHgal-3. Thymocytes and hepatocytes from 6-week-old male BALB/c mice were incubated with rHgal-3 and showed marked increase of apoptotic population on analysis using flow cytometry with 7-AAD in a dosedependent manner. However, rHgal-3 failed to induce apoptosis on hepatocytes. Interestingly, this apoptotic effect was not inhibited by lactose, a specific lectin domain inhibitor. From these results, we concluded that extrinsic -3 induces apoptosis on mouse thymocytes, and galectin-3 may have an apoptotic effect on T-cells in thymic clonal selection.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.83-87
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• 2008

Accessory cervical thymic tissue has been rarely reported. However, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of neck masses in children, along with branchial anomalies, lymph nodes and other tumors. This lesion occurs along the descending line of the thymus between the angle of mandible and superior mediastinum. A 2-month-old infant presented with an asymptomatic left sided neck mass. MRI revealed a well defined homogeneous mass in the deep lobe of left parotid gland. At operation, an easily identified soft tissue mass was found in the left submandibular area, measuring $3{\times}1.5cm$. It was completely excised. Microscopic examination revealed normal thymic tissue.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 2009

Purpose : Thymus is a lymphoproliferative organ that changes size in various physiological states in addition to some pathological conditions. Thymus is susceptible to involution, and shows a dramatic response to severe stress. Thymic measurements may be helpful in various diseases. UTI (urinary tract infection) is most common bacterial infection in infants and VUR (vesicoureteral reflux) is a common abnormality associated with UTI. In our study, the size of thymus was compared on the premise that a greater stress is exerted on the body when UTI is accompanied by VUR, than when occurs on its own. Methods : Thymic size was measured on standard chest anteroposterior radiographs and expressed as the ratio between the transverse diameter of the cardiothymic image at the level of the carina and that of the thorax (CT/T). The medical records of 99 febrile urinary tract infection infants without other genitourinary anomalies except VUR were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Among 99 patients with febrile UTIs, 25 were febrile UTI without VUR and 74 with VUR. For the UTI with VUR group, there was a significant decrease in the thymic size compared to the those without VUR group ($0.382{\pm}0.048$ vs $0.439{\pm}0.079$, P<0.05). However, there were no differences in the duration of fever and WBC, CRP between the UTI with VUR and UTI without VUR. In addition, there were no differences in the cardiothymic/thoracic ratios between renal defects and renal scars in febrile UTI patients. Conclusion : The results of this study show that the shirinkage of thymus was more frequently found in the UTI patients with VUR. Therefore, awareness of the risks associated with thymic size is important for the appropriate work up and management of UTI patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.126-142
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• 2022

Background: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare, and information regarding their surgical outcomes and prognostic factors has rapidly changed in the past few decades. We analyzed surgical treatment practices for TETs and outcomes in terms of overall survival (OS) and freedom from recurrence (FFR) during a 13-year period in Korea. Methods: In total, 1,298 patients with surgically resected TETs between 2000 and 2013 were enrolled retrospectively. OS and FFR were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and evaluated with the log-rank test. Prognostic factors for OS and FFR were analyzed with multivariable Cox regression. Results: A total of 1,098 patients were diagnosed with thymoma, and 200 patients were diagnosed with thymic carcinoma. Over the study period, the total number of patients with surgically treated TETs and the proportion of patients who underwent minimally invasive thymic surgery (MITS) increased annually. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates of surgically treated TETs were 91.0% and 82.1%, respectively. The 5-year and 10-year recurrence rates were 86.3% and 80.0%, respectively. The outcomes of surgically treated TETs improved over time. Multivariable Cox hazards analysis for OS, age, tumor size, and Masaoka-Koga stage were independent predictors of prognosis. The World Health Organization classification and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging were also related to the prognosis of TETs. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of TETs achieved a good prognosis with a recent increase in MITS. The M-K stage was the most important prognostic factor for OS and FFR. The new TNM stage could also be an effective predictor of the outcomes of TETs.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.441-449
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• 2013

Recent study showed that T cells in the immune organs and peripheral blood are influenced by estradiol, leading to a dysfunction of the immune system. However, little is known about the thymic-gonadal relationship during the estrous cycle in mouse. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which a change in estradiol levels during the estrous cycle regulates the development of T cells in the mouse thymus. Six-week-old ICR mice were used and divided into four groups, including diestrous, proestrous, estrous, and metestrous. We first confirmed that ER-${\alpha}$ and - ${\beta}$ estrogen receptors were expressed in thymic epithelial cells, showing that their expression was not different during the estrous cycle. There was also no significant difference in thymic weight and total number of thymocytes during the estrous cycle. To determine the degree of thymocyte differentiation during the estrous cycle, we analyzed thymocytes by flow cytometry. As a result, the percentage of CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) T cells was significantly decreased in the proestrous phase compared to the diestrous phase. However, CD4+CD8- or CD4-CD8+ (SP) T cells were significantly increased in the proestrous phase compared to the diestrous phase. In addition, the percentage of CD44+CD25- (DN1) T cells was significantly decreased in the estrous phase compared to other phases, whereas the percentages of CD44+CD25+ (DN2), CD44-CD25+ (DN3), and CD44-CD25- (DN4) were not changed during the estrous cycle. These results indicate that the development of thymocytes may arrest in the DP to SP transition stage in the proestrous phase displaying the highest serum level of estradiol. This study suggests that a change in estradiol levels during the estrous cycle may be involved in the regulation of thymocyte differentiation in the mouse thymus.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2005

Background: Interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) ${\alpha}$-deficient mice have small numbers of B cells and ${\alpha}{\beta}$T cells in periphery, they totally lack ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells. In addition, the V-J recombination and transcription of TCR ${\gamma}$ genes is also severely impaired in IL-7R ${\alpha}$-deficient mice. Stat5, a signaling molecule of the IL-7R, induces germline transcription in the TCR ${\gamma}$ locus, and promotes V-J recombination and ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cell development. However, the roles for IL-7R signaling pathway in thymic or extrathymic ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cell development are largely unknown. Methods: To clarify the role of the IL-7 receptor in proliferation and survival of ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells, we introduced the TCR ${\gamma}{\delta}$ transgene, $V_{{\gamma}2}/V{\delta}_5$, into IL-7R ${\alpha}$-deficient mice, and investigated the development of ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells. Results: We found that $V_{{\gamma}2}/V{\delta}_5$ transgene restored ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells in the epithelium of the small intestine (IEL) but not in the thymus and the spleen. Further addition of a bcl-2 transgene resulted in partial recovery of ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells in the thymus and the spleen of these mice. Conclusion: Taken together, this study revealed that the IL-7R ${\alpha}$ is indispensable for proliferation and survival mainly in thymic ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cell development.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.281-288
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• 2001

Background : The most common anterior mediastinal tumors originate from the thymus. Among them, thymic carcinomas occur as an early local invasion and wide spread metastases. However, when squamous cell carcinoma in the thymus or mediastinum is identified, an occult primary lung cancer must be excluded because the histologic types resemble those found more typically in the lung. CD5 and cytokeratin immunohistochemical staining is useful in evaluating biopsy samples from those tumors. Squamous cell carcinoma of an unknown primary origin in the mediastinum is a rare occurrence and there are only a handful of case reports. Here we describe a case with an anterior mediastinal mass of squamous cell carcinoma with unknown primary origin. A resection of the mediastinal mass without an association with the lung was performed. Immunohistochemical stallings were positive using cytokeratin 13, and negative using CD5 and cytokeratin 7. This was followed by chemotherapy for presumed thymic carcinoma.