Table 2.

Thymic stromal cell types and subtypes with identifying markers from single-cell omic studies

StudyCell typeSubtypeMarkers
Park et al., 2020  TEC cTEC EPCAM, FOXN1, PSMB11 
mcTEC EPCAM, DLK2 
mTECI EPCAM, KRT14 
mTECII EPCAM, AIRE 
mTECIII EPCAM, KRT1 
mTECIV EPCAM, FOXJ1 
TEC(myo) EPCAM, MYOD, CHRNA1 
TEC(neuro) EPCAM, NEUROD1, CHGA 
Fibroblast Fib_1 PDGFRA, COLEC11, ALDH1A2, GDF10 
Fib_2 PDGFRA, FBN1, PI16, SEMA3D 
Fb_cycling PDGFRA, PCNA 
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC)  PDGFRB, ACTA2, RGS5 
Endothelial Endo PECAM1, CDH5 
Lymph PECAM1, LYVE1 
Campinoti et al., 2020  TEC cTEC I CCL25, CD274, CFC1, CTSV, FOXN1, KCNIP3, LY75, PRSS16, PSMB11, SCX, SLC46A2, TBATA, TP53AIP1 
cTEC II 
cTEC III 
mTEC-Myo I CD24, HES6, EPCAM, CDH1, CLDN3 
mTEC-Myo II 
mTEC-Neuro I 
mTEC-Neuro II 
mTEC-Diff 
Common (com)TECEMT CCL19, CFTR, COL1A1, DAB2, FN1, GLIPR2, HAS2, HGF, KRT14, KRT15, LOXL2, MKI67, MMP2, S100A4, SNAI1, SNAI2, TFCP2L1, TGFB3, TGFBR2, THY1, TP63, TWIST1, ZEB1 
comTEC-Proliferating 
comTEC-Polykeratins 
comTEC-Ionocytes 
Bautista et al., 2021  TEC cTEChi EPCAM, FOXN1, PSMB11, CCL25, HLA-DQB1 
cTEClo EPCAM, FOXN1, PSMB11 
Immature TEC-1 EPCAM, KRT8, KRT5, SOCS3, KRT17 
Immature TEC-2 EPCAM, KRT8, KRT5, IGFBP5, SAA1, CDH13 
mTEClo EPCAM, CLDN4, CCL21, KRT15 
Aire+ mTEChi EPCAM, SPIB, AIRE, FEZF2 
Corneo-like mTEC EPCAM, KRT1, IVL 
Neuroendocrine EPCAM, NEUROD1, BEX1 
Myoid EPCAM, MYOD1, DES 
Myelin+ EPCAM, SOX10, MPZ 
Mesenchyme  PDGFRA, LUM, LAMA2 
Pericytes  PDGFRB, MCAM, CPSG4, FST 
Endothelial Endo-1 PECAM1, ACKR1, SELE, APLNR, LGALS3 
Endo-2 PECAM1, VEGFC, GJA4 
Endo-3 PECAM1, ACKR1, APLNR, FN1 
Endo-4 LYVE1, PROX1, CCL21 
Mesothelium  MSLN, UPK3B, PRG4 
Heimli et al., 2023  TEC cTEC EPCAM, PSMB11, PRSS16, CCL25 
NEURL2+ TEC EPCAM, PRSS16, NEURL2, DLL4 
mcTEC EPCAM, DLK2, CCL2, KRT15 
mTECI EPCAM, DLK2, CCL2, KRT15, CCL19, CXCL14 
mTECII EPCAM, AIRE, HLA-DRA, NTHL1 
mTECIII EPCAM, IVL, ANXA1, ANXA9 
mTEC(myo) EPCAM, MYOG, MYOD1, DES 
mTEC(neuro) EPCAM, NEUROD1, BEX1 
Ciliated EPCAM, ATOH1, GFI1, LHX3, FOXJ1 
Ionocyte-like EPCAM, FOXI1,ASCL3, CFTR, CLCNKB 
Fibroblast Fibro_1 COL15A1, SFRP2 
Fibro_2 IL33, CCL19 
Fibro_3 CCL19, CXCL9, CXCL10, CD40, HLA-DRA 
Fibro_4 DPP4, PI16, SEMA3C, MFAP5,FBN1 
Endothelial Endo_1 PECAM1, ACKR1, ICAM1, SELE 
Endo_2 PECAM1, ACKR1 
Endo_3 PECAM1, CXCL12, SEMA3G, HEY1, NOTCH4, IL32 
Endo_4 LYVE1, PROX1, FLT4 
Mural Mural_1 ATF3, NR4A1, CDKN1A, MYH11, TAGLN 
Mural_2 MYH11 
Mural_3 CCL21, CCL19, CXCL12 
Ragazzini et al., 2023  TEC cTEC immediate-early genes CD274, TBATA, PRSS16, FOXN1, AP-1 
cTEC conventional I–III TBATA, PRSS16, CTSV, KCNIP3 
cTEC differentiating TBATA, PRSS16, ATF3, CCL5 
PolyKRT KRT5, KRT8, KRT13, KRT14, KRT15, KRT17 
PolyKRT proliferating KRT5, KRT8, KRT13, KRT14, KRT15, KRT17, HMGB2 
mTEC Hassall’s body region KRT1, KRT6A,KRT10, AIRE, FEZF2 
mTEC Ionocytes CFTR, TFCP2L1, ASCL3, FOXI1, KRT7 
mTEC differentiating ASCL1, CLDN3-4 
mTEC Myoid MYOD, MYOG, TTN, MEFC2 
mTEC Neuro early NEUROD1, GNG8, SOX11, NKX6-2, MGP, AVP 
mTEC Neuro intermediate NEUROD1, GNG8, POUF4F1, HIGD1B, GKAP1 
mTEC Mechano high S100A1, POUF4F3, IRX2, SOX2 
mTEC Mechano low S100A1, POUF4F3, IRX2, ATOH1 
Stankiewicz et al., 2023, Preprint TEC cTEC PSMB11, KRT5, KRT8 
mTEC EPCAM, KRT5, KRT8 
Activated mTEC EPCAM, CLASS I, CLASS II 
Specialty TEC EPCAM, NEUROD1, MYOG, POU4F1 
Fibroblast DPP4+ capsular (cap) Fibs PDGFRA, PI16, DPP4 
capFibs PDGFRA, PI16 
Medullary Fibs PDGFRA, CCL19, CLASS I 
Fibs proliferating PDGFRA, MKI67 
KRT+ Fibs PDGFRA, KRT5, KRT8 
VSMC  MCAM, ACTA2 
Pericytes  MCAM 
Endothelial ECs (Notch) CD31, JAG1, JAG2, DLL1, DLL4 
ECs CD31 
Lymphatic endothelial cells CD31, LYVE1 
Yayon et al., 2023, Preprint TEC cTECI PSMB11, LY75, CCL25, HLA-DRA 
cTECII PSMB11, LY75, CCL25, HLA-DRA, DLL4, FOXN1 
cTECIII PSMB11, LY75, CCL25, HLA-DRA, TBATA, TP53AIP1 
mcTEC DLK2, IGFBP5, IGFBP6, CCN2, CCL2, ITGA6, KRT15 
mcTEC-Prolif DLK2, IGFBP5, IGFBP6, CCN2, CCL2, ITGA6, MKI67 
mTECI EPCAM, ASCL1, CCL21 
mTECI-trans EPCAM, ASCL1 
mTECII EPCAM, AIRE, FEZF2, CRIP1 
mTECIII EPCAM, SLPI, IVL, KRT10, CDKN2A 
TEC-neuro EPCAM, NEUROD1, BEX1, NEUROG1, NEUROD4 
TEC-ciliated EPCAM, NEUROD1, BEX1, PCP4, FOXJ1 
TEC-myo EPCAM, MYOG, TTN, CHRNA1 
TEC-tuft EPCAM, FOXI1, CFTR, POU2F3, PLCB2 
Fibroblast PeriloFb PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, COLEC11, ALDH1A2, GDF10 
PeriloFb-Prolif PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, COLEC11, ALDH1A2, GDF10, MKI67 
InterloFb PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, FBN1, PI16, MFAP5, SEMA3C 
InterloFb-COL9A3 PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, FBN1, PI16, MFAP5, SEMA3C, COL9A3, COL13A1, WIF1, DHRS3 
Medullary fibroblasts (medFb) PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, CCL19, IL33, TNSF10, CXCL9, CXCL10 
medFb-RGS5 PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, CCL19, IL33, TNSF10, CXCL9, CXCL10, RGS5 
medFB-MHCIIh PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, CCL19, IL33, TNSF10, CXCL9, CXCL10, HLA-DRA, SBSPON, HEY1, LTBP1 
fetFB-CCL21 PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, CCL21, FDCSP, CXCL13 
fetFB-NKX2-5 PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, TNNT1, NKX2-5, KRT8 
fetFB-RSPO2 PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, CES1, RSPO2 
Endothelial EC-Art PECAM1, CDH5, CLDN5, CXCL12, SEMA3G, HEY1 
EC-Art-ELN PECAM1, CDH5, CLDN5, SULF1, ELN, CXCL12, SEMA3G, HEY1 
EC-Cap PECAM1, CDH5, CLDN5, RGCC, PLVAP 
EC-Cap-Prolif PECAM1, CDH5, CLDN5, RGCC, PLVAP, MKI67 
EC-Ven PECAM1, CDH5, CLDN5, PLVAP, ACKR1, ICAM1, CCL2, SELE 
EC-Ven-ELN PECAM1, CDH5, SULF1, ELN, PLVAP, ACKR1, ICAM1, CCL2, SELE 
EC-Lymphatic CLDN5, PROX1, TFF3, CCL21 
Pericytes SMC ACTA2, MYH11, RERGL, CASQ2, ELN 
Pericyte RGS5, PDGFRB, ABCC9, KCNJ8 
Pericyte_CCL19 RGS5, PDGFRB, ABCC9, KCNJ8, CCL19, CCL21 
Pericyte_COL1A1 ACTA2, COL1A1, ELN 
ProlifPericyte ACTA2, RGS5, PDGFRB, ABCC9, KCNJ8, MKI67, TOP2A 
StudyCell typeSubtypeMarkers
Park et al., 2020  TEC cTEC EPCAM, FOXN1, PSMB11 
mcTEC EPCAM, DLK2 
mTECI EPCAM, KRT14 
mTECII EPCAM, AIRE 
mTECIII EPCAM, KRT1 
mTECIV EPCAM, FOXJ1 
TEC(myo) EPCAM, MYOD, CHRNA1 
TEC(neuro) EPCAM, NEUROD1, CHGA 
Fibroblast Fib_1 PDGFRA, COLEC11, ALDH1A2, GDF10 
Fib_2 PDGFRA, FBN1, PI16, SEMA3D 
Fb_cycling PDGFRA, PCNA 
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC)  PDGFRB, ACTA2, RGS5 
Endothelial Endo PECAM1, CDH5 
Lymph PECAM1, LYVE1 
Campinoti et al., 2020  TEC cTEC I CCL25, CD274, CFC1, CTSV, FOXN1, KCNIP3, LY75, PRSS16, PSMB11, SCX, SLC46A2, TBATA, TP53AIP1 
cTEC II 
cTEC III 
mTEC-Myo I CD24, HES6, EPCAM, CDH1, CLDN3 
mTEC-Myo II 
mTEC-Neuro I 
mTEC-Neuro II 
mTEC-Diff 
Common (com)TECEMT CCL19, CFTR, COL1A1, DAB2, FN1, GLIPR2, HAS2, HGF, KRT14, KRT15, LOXL2, MKI67, MMP2, S100A4, SNAI1, SNAI2, TFCP2L1, TGFB3, TGFBR2, THY1, TP63, TWIST1, ZEB1 
comTEC-Proliferating 
comTEC-Polykeratins 
comTEC-Ionocytes 
Bautista et al., 2021  TEC cTEChi EPCAM, FOXN1, PSMB11, CCL25, HLA-DQB1 
cTEClo EPCAM, FOXN1, PSMB11 
Immature TEC-1 EPCAM, KRT8, KRT5, SOCS3, KRT17 
Immature TEC-2 EPCAM, KRT8, KRT5, IGFBP5, SAA1, CDH13 
mTEClo EPCAM, CLDN4, CCL21, KRT15 
Aire+ mTEChi EPCAM, SPIB, AIRE, FEZF2 
Corneo-like mTEC EPCAM, KRT1, IVL 
Neuroendocrine EPCAM, NEUROD1, BEX1 
Myoid EPCAM, MYOD1, DES 
Myelin+ EPCAM, SOX10, MPZ 
Mesenchyme  PDGFRA, LUM, LAMA2 
Pericytes  PDGFRB, MCAM, CPSG4, FST 
Endothelial Endo-1 PECAM1, ACKR1, SELE, APLNR, LGALS3 
Endo-2 PECAM1, VEGFC, GJA4 
Endo-3 PECAM1, ACKR1, APLNR, FN1 
Endo-4 LYVE1, PROX1, CCL21 
Mesothelium  MSLN, UPK3B, PRG4 
Heimli et al., 2023  TEC cTEC EPCAM, PSMB11, PRSS16, CCL25 
NEURL2+ TEC EPCAM, PRSS16, NEURL2, DLL4 
mcTEC EPCAM, DLK2, CCL2, KRT15 
mTECI EPCAM, DLK2, CCL2, KRT15, CCL19, CXCL14 
mTECII EPCAM, AIRE, HLA-DRA, NTHL1 
mTECIII EPCAM, IVL, ANXA1, ANXA9 
mTEC(myo) EPCAM, MYOG, MYOD1, DES 
mTEC(neuro) EPCAM, NEUROD1, BEX1 
Ciliated EPCAM, ATOH1, GFI1, LHX3, FOXJ1 
Ionocyte-like EPCAM, FOXI1,ASCL3, CFTR, CLCNKB 
Fibroblast Fibro_1 COL15A1, SFRP2 
Fibro_2 IL33, CCL19 
Fibro_3 CCL19, CXCL9, CXCL10, CD40, HLA-DRA 
Fibro_4 DPP4, PI16, SEMA3C, MFAP5,FBN1 
Endothelial Endo_1 PECAM1, ACKR1, ICAM1, SELE 
Endo_2 PECAM1, ACKR1 
Endo_3 PECAM1, CXCL12, SEMA3G, HEY1, NOTCH4, IL32 
Endo_4 LYVE1, PROX1, FLT4 
Mural Mural_1 ATF3, NR4A1, CDKN1A, MYH11, TAGLN 
Mural_2 MYH11 
Mural_3 CCL21, CCL19, CXCL12 
Ragazzini et al., 2023  TEC cTEC immediate-early genes CD274, TBATA, PRSS16, FOXN1, AP-1 
cTEC conventional I–III TBATA, PRSS16, CTSV, KCNIP3 
cTEC differentiating TBATA, PRSS16, ATF3, CCL5 
PolyKRT KRT5, KRT8, KRT13, KRT14, KRT15, KRT17 
PolyKRT proliferating KRT5, KRT8, KRT13, KRT14, KRT15, KRT17, HMGB2 
mTEC Hassall’s body region KRT1, KRT6A,KRT10, AIRE, FEZF2 
mTEC Ionocytes CFTR, TFCP2L1, ASCL3, FOXI1, KRT7 
mTEC differentiating ASCL1, CLDN3-4 
mTEC Myoid MYOD, MYOG, TTN, MEFC2 
mTEC Neuro early NEUROD1, GNG8, SOX11, NKX6-2, MGP, AVP 
mTEC Neuro intermediate NEUROD1, GNG8, POUF4F1, HIGD1B, GKAP1 
mTEC Mechano high S100A1, POUF4F3, IRX2, SOX2 
mTEC Mechano low S100A1, POUF4F3, IRX2, ATOH1 
Stankiewicz et al., 2023, Preprint TEC cTEC PSMB11, KRT5, KRT8 
mTEC EPCAM, KRT5, KRT8 
Activated mTEC EPCAM, CLASS I, CLASS II 
Specialty TEC EPCAM, NEUROD1, MYOG, POU4F1 
Fibroblast DPP4+ capsular (cap) Fibs PDGFRA, PI16, DPP4 
capFibs PDGFRA, PI16 
Medullary Fibs PDGFRA, CCL19, CLASS I 
Fibs proliferating PDGFRA, MKI67 
KRT+ Fibs PDGFRA, KRT5, KRT8 
VSMC  MCAM, ACTA2 
Pericytes  MCAM 
Endothelial ECs (Notch) CD31, JAG1, JAG2, DLL1, DLL4 
ECs CD31 
Lymphatic endothelial cells CD31, LYVE1 
Yayon et al., 2023, Preprint TEC cTECI PSMB11, LY75, CCL25, HLA-DRA 
cTECII PSMB11, LY75, CCL25, HLA-DRA, DLL4, FOXN1 
cTECIII PSMB11, LY75, CCL25, HLA-DRA, TBATA, TP53AIP1 
mcTEC DLK2, IGFBP5, IGFBP6, CCN2, CCL2, ITGA6, KRT15 
mcTEC-Prolif DLK2, IGFBP5, IGFBP6, CCN2, CCL2, ITGA6, MKI67 
mTECI EPCAM, ASCL1, CCL21 
mTECI-trans EPCAM, ASCL1 
mTECII EPCAM, AIRE, FEZF2, CRIP1 
mTECIII EPCAM, SLPI, IVL, KRT10, CDKN2A 
TEC-neuro EPCAM, NEUROD1, BEX1, NEUROG1, NEUROD4 
TEC-ciliated EPCAM, NEUROD1, BEX1, PCP4, FOXJ1 
TEC-myo EPCAM, MYOG, TTN, CHRNA1 
TEC-tuft EPCAM, FOXI1, CFTR, POU2F3, PLCB2 
Fibroblast PeriloFb PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, COLEC11, ALDH1A2, GDF10 
PeriloFb-Prolif PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, COLEC11, ALDH1A2, GDF10, MKI67 
InterloFb PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, FBN1, PI16, MFAP5, SEMA3C 
InterloFb-COL9A3 PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, FBN1, PI16, MFAP5, SEMA3C, COL9A3, COL13A1, WIF1, DHRS3 
Medullary fibroblasts (medFb) PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, CCL19, IL33, TNSF10, CXCL9, CXCL10 
medFb-RGS5 PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, CCL19, IL33, TNSF10, CXCL9, CXCL10, RGS5 
medFB-MHCIIh PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, CCL19, IL33, TNSF10, CXCL9, CXCL10, HLA-DRA, SBSPON, HEY1, LTBP1 
fetFB-CCL21 PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, CCL21, FDCSP, CXCL13 
fetFB-NKX2-5 PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, TNNT1, NKX2-5, KRT8 
fetFB-RSPO2 PDGFRA, PDGFRB, VIM, CES1, RSPO2 
Endothelial EC-Art PECAM1, CDH5, CLDN5, CXCL12, SEMA3G, HEY1 
EC-Art-ELN PECAM1, CDH5, CLDN5, SULF1, ELN, CXCL12, SEMA3G, HEY1 
EC-Cap PECAM1, CDH5, CLDN5, RGCC, PLVAP 
EC-Cap-Prolif PECAM1, CDH5, CLDN5, RGCC, PLVAP, MKI67 
EC-Ven PECAM1, CDH5, CLDN5, PLVAP, ACKR1, ICAM1, CCL2, SELE 
EC-Ven-ELN PECAM1, CDH5, SULF1, ELN, PLVAP, ACKR1, ICAM1, CCL2, SELE 
EC-Lymphatic CLDN5, PROX1, TFF3, CCL21 
Pericytes SMC ACTA2, MYH11, RERGL, CASQ2, ELN 
Pericyte RGS5, PDGFRB, ABCC9, KCNJ8 
Pericyte_CCL19 RGS5, PDGFRB, ABCC9, KCNJ8, CCL19, CCL21 
Pericyte_COL1A1 ACTA2, COL1A1, ELN 
ProlifPericyte ACTA2, RGS5, PDGFRB, ABCC9, KCNJ8, MKI67, TOP2A 

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