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Immunohistochemistry of Normal Thymus

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Atlas of Thymic Pathology

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Abstract

Immunohistochemistry contributed, among other specialized techniques, to characterize the two main compartments of the human thymus, cortex and medulla, and their constituent cells. Several antibodies have been raised to understand the immunophenotypes of epithelial and lymphoid cells and their evolutionary and functional interplay. This chapter illustrates and provides examples of the main immunohistochemical stains directed to relevant molecules expressed on the cell surface or cytoplasm or nucleus of thymic cells. Insights into their molecular constitution and relevance in thymic physiology are given. This overview is aimed to provide information of the normal thymic microenvironment and to assist in the evaluation of its diseased state.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Library of the IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute for the bibliographic assistance and Prof. S. Ascani, Perugia University, Ospedale S. Maria, Terni, Italy, for providing photographs of the LMO2 staining.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomic Pathology Unit, Oncology Department and Specialist Medicines, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospitals, Rome, Italy

    Maria Teresa Ramieri

  2. Department of Pathology, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy

    Enzo Gallo & Mirella Marino

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  1. Maria Teresa Ramieri
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  2. Enzo Gallo
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  3. Mirella Marino
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Correspondence to Mirella Marino .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Deepali Jain

  2. Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Justin A. Bishop

  3. University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Mark R. Wick

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Ramieri, M.T., Gallo, E., Marino, M. (2020). Immunohistochemistry of Normal Thymus. In: Jain, D., Bishop, J.A., Wick, M.R. (eds) Atlas of Thymic Pathology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3164-4_2

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