Vascularized thymic lobe transplantation in miniature swine: I. Vascularized thymic lobe allografts support thymopoiesis1

Abstract

Our study demonstrates the technical feasibility of vascularized thymic lobe transplantation and the support of thymopoiesis by such transplants in a large animal model. This technique may offer a novel strategy to induce transplant tolerance across allogeneic and xenogeneic barriers, and to support long-term thymopoiesis in immunodeficient hosts.