Thymocyte
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A thymocyte is an immune cell in the thymus that eventually transforms into a T cell. Thymocytes are produced in the bone marrow as stem cells and travel to the thymus through the blood.
Thymocytes are immature T cells that migrate to the thymus to mature. The thymus is an organ located in the upper mid-chest.
Thymocytes can be divided into several subpopulations based on the expression of two antigens:
- Double-negative (DN) cells: Express neither CD4 nor CD8
- Double-positive (DP) cells: Express both CD4 and CD8
- CD4 single-positive (CD4SP) cells: Express only CD4
Thymocytes at different stages of development are located in different parts of the thymus. The earliest cells to enter the thymus are found in the subcapsular region of the cortex.
T cells generated from thymopoiesis are essential for the immune system.